“Canada’s cities, and in particular its metropolitan regions, generate the vast majority of the country’s wealth and cultural life, and are without question the engines of this country,” said Jacobs. “But Canada is not providing a suitable habitat for the kind of creative, vital cities so critical to Canadian life.” The internationally respected author of several ground-breaking books about cities and economies, Jacobs has lived in Toronto for over 30 years. “I’m concerned that Canadian larger, economically vibrant cities don’t have the powers or resources they need to meet the challenges before them”. 

Jacobs approached Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray to host the meeting. “Jane Jacobs is an icon to anyone active in urban life, and the fact that she’s directing her passion to this C5 meeting in Winnipeg is remarkable proof of her vision,” said Mayor Murray. “It is my hope we will be bold. We have to re-constitute the authority of cities," he says. "Charter cities is a concept who’s time has come.”

Jacobs was part or the drafting group convened by Toronto businessman Alan Broadbent, of former Mayors and academics who developed a draft Charter for the Toronto Region, a document that calls for broader taxing powers and political authority to be devolved to the Toronto Region. The so-called “Charter Movement” has been gaining favour across the country and generating a renewed interest in cities and urban policy at the highest levels.

Murray and Jacobs have invited Mayor Phillip Owen (Vancouver), Mayor Al Duerr (Calgary),

Mayor Mel Lastman (Toronto) and Mayor Pierre Bourque (Montreal), to join them in Winnipeg, along with up to four people from their communities, to be part of delegations from each City.

“Toronto’s recent budget challenges underscore the importance of this meeting” said Mayor Mel Lastman. “We can’t possibly continue to finance major urban infrastructure off the property tax. We’re behind the times: in Europe, in the United States, they’re doing everything they can to empower their cities. Here in Canada, cities must become a priority for our senior levels of government” said Mayor Lastman.

Pierre Bourque shares the concern about the future of cities. “We are driving the national economies, so I welcome an opportunity to meet with my colleagues to see what we can do together to strengthen our ability to compete internationally” said Mayor Bourque. 

"I agree completely with Jane Jacob's premise that a healthy national economy requires economic exchange within and between its cities," said Al Duerr, Mayor of Calgary. "Cities need to see new partnerships formed with citizens and other levels of government that more appropriately allocate the resources to the level of government that is doing the work and delivering the services."

In addition to economic opportunities, Canada’s urban regions share other challenges, particularly in the area of social policy. "The City of Vancouver has been rigorously involved in a consultative process with its citizens in replacing the 'War on Drugs' with a four pillar approach, involving prevention, enforcement, treatment and harm reduction. The ground swell of public enthusiasm is very telling: the City has the support of almost 90% of our citizens” said Mayor Phillip Owen.

“These cities are the crucible of the Canadian experience,” said Jacobs. “Between the five of us, we are home to most of the Canadian population, and probably generate three quarters of the country’s GDP. Next year we will welcome close to a quarter of a million newcomers to Canada. Increasingly, people’s experience of this country is dependent on the ability of the urban region to provide a liveable, workable and visitable environment.” 

Meetings of the C5 will take place at Winnipeg’s historic Fort Garry Hotel. A final public session, open to media, will be held on May 25.