Federal Property Policy in Canadian Municipalities

Book excerpt: Federal property issues - especially those involving divestiture - create political disputes at all levels of government. Federal Property Policy in Canadian Municipalities analyzes the emergence of many of these issues involving military bases, airports, and other facilities in communities across Canada. With careful analysis the contributors show the underlying patterns and causes of these conflicts and their resolutions while emphasizing intergovernmental relations and the social forces that are active in property issues. Contributors examine general federal policy as well as issues pertinent to British Columbia, the Toronto waterfront, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The unprecedented number of cases discussed in these essays provides general conclusions and recommendations for a new orientation that will take local interests and preferences into account from the outset of decision-making. Public property is an understudied field of public policy, particularly as it concerns municipal government. Federal Property Policy in Canadian Municipalities presents a comprehensive treatment of federal property, changes in policy, and the effects these changes have on various levels of government. Contributors include Jeff Braun-Jackson (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Pierre Filion (University of Waterloo), Michael C. Ircha (University of New Brunswick), Leonard Wade Locke (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Robert MacKinnon (University of New Brunswick in Saint John), Kurt Peacock (University of New Brunswick in Saint John), Christopher Sanderson (Government of Manitoba), Tracy Summerville (University of Northern British Columbia), Stephen Tomblin (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Gary N. Wilson (University of Northern British Columbia), John Young (University of Northern British Columbia), and Robert A. Young (University of Western Ontario).