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Zack Taylor

Zack Taylor

@bigcitypolitics.bsky.social

380 followers 200 following 31 posts

Professor of political science, public administration, and geography at the University of Western Ontario, Canada @westernuniversity.bsky.social; Editor-in-Chief, Territory, Politics, Governance journal @rsa-tpg.bsky.social @regstud.bsky.social .. more

Political science 72%

Sociology 13%

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Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Dec 19

It's officially out! City Politics in Canada, co-edited with @jacklucas.bsky.social and Martin Horak @westernupolisci.bsky.social is in print and available for course adoption. Thank you to all chapter authors for their contributions. bsky.app/profile/did:...

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Oct 15

Coming in December from @uoftpress.bsky.social: City Politics in Canada: 40 Years of Continuity and Change, co-edited with Martin Horak (@westernupolisci.bsky.social) and @jacklucas.bsky.social! utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · 18d

We’re proud to have produced this substantial expansion and update of our overview of municipal law in all 10 provinces and 3 territories in Canada. We draw some original and potentially contrarian conclusions. We hope this contributes to the ongoing debate about municipal authority and its limits.

IMFG @imfgtoronto.bsky.social · 19d

1/ Over the past four decades, Canadian municipal law and the role of municipalities have evolved significantly. @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social bit.ly/4pOu9kL

Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto
Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law
Second Edition
Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson
IMFG Papers on Municipal Finance and Governance
No. 74
2026

Reposted by Zack Taylor

IMFG @imfgtoronto.bsky.social · 19d

6/ This second edition of a 2020 IMFG paper provides an accessible and systematic comparative overview of municipal authority and responsibilities across all ten provinces and three territories, concluding with key trends and suggested research agenda. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law

By Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson

Over the past four decades, the role of municipalities in Canada has evolved significantly. This paper provides an accessible and systematic overview of municipal authority and responsibilities across all ten provinces and three territories. The authors find that while the general trend has been toward more permissive authority and the recognition of municipalities as democratic and accountable governments, significant variation persists in both law and practice across - and within - provinces and territories.

Read the full report: https://bit.ly/4pOu9kL

Key Takeaways:
1. Provinces and territories increasingly recognize municipalities as accountable, democratic governments in law.
2. Municipal grants of authority are increasingly expansive and permissive, significantly broadening the scope of municipal action and discretion.
3. The courts have increasingly demonstrated a generous interpretation of municipalities’ permissive authority.
4. The governance landscape is becoming increasingly complex, the costs and benefits of which are unclear.
5. The trend toward municipal empowerment co-exists with provincial intervention.
6. Fiscal innovation has lagged legal innovation, increasing the risk of insufficient resources and unfunded mandates.
Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities

Reposted by Zack Taylor

IMFG @imfgtoronto.bsky.social · 19d

5/ While the general trend has been toward more permissive authority and the recognition of municipalities as democratic and accountable governments, significant variation persists in both law and practice across - and within - provinces and territories. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

This broadening of local legislative scope and discretion has far-reaching implications, potentially enabling municipalities to enter new policy fields while unlocking local policy innovation.
- Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson
Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law
Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto

Reposted by Zack Taylor

IMFG @imfgtoronto.bsky.social · 19d

4 / Major trends in Canadian municipal law include local empowerment, provincial policy centralization, and judicial deference to local legislation. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

Local governments have more authority and the capacity to exercise it than ever before, yet unilateral provincial government intervention in municipal affairs continues.
- Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson
Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law
Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto

Reposted by Zack Taylor

IMFG @imfgtoronto.bsky.social · 19d

3/ Defining the relationship between a province or territory and its municipalities is a central task of local government law. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

The question of whether the configuration of the provincial- and territorial-municipal relationship reflects contemporary values and meets current needs is perennial.
Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson
Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law
Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto

Reposted by Zack Taylor

IMFG @imfgtoronto.bsky.social · 19d

2/ Provincial and territorial governments have expanded the scope of municipal legal authority through revisions to general municipal legislation and the adoption of special statutes for major cities. bit.ly/4pOu9kL

With these changes [in municipal law], Canadian municipalities became defined in law as accountable, democratic governments with broad, flexible powers and greater discretion to exercise them.
Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson
Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law
Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto

Reposted by Zack Taylor

IMFG @imfgtoronto.bsky.social · 19d

1/ Over the past four decades, Canadian municipal law and the role of municipalities have evolved significantly. @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social bit.ly/4pOu9kL

Logos of IMFG, School of Cities, and University of Toronto
Power and Purpose: The Quiet Evolution of Canadian Municipal Law
Second Edition
Zack Taylor, Craig Mutter, Joseph Lyons, and Alec Dobson
IMFG Papers on Municipal Finance and Governance
No. 74
2026

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Jan 8

I am excited to renew my association with the University of Toronto as I begin a six month visiting fellowship at the @uoftcities.bsky.social and the @imfgtoronto.bsky.social. I look forward to connecting with colleagues old and new, and getting lots of work done.

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Dec 22

A similar agreement has been a win for Canadian researchers for some years. It will certainly have an impact on our @regstud.bsky.social journals.

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Dec 19

I'm glad it arrived! We are very happy as well! We'll be in touch with all of our chapter authors as we seek to get the word out. utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....

City Politics in Canada - University of Toronto Press

utppublishing.com

Reposted by Zack Taylor

Lavanya Gupta @lavanyag.bsky.social · Nov 17

Hi everyone, so this is happening & I would be really glad to have you all join me in this conversation.
Academic writing is tough & publishing tougher. However there are avenues that are a middle grounds of academic publishing where all ideas are open for discussion & writing is flexible.

Reposted by Zack Taylor

Roger Keil @rkeil.bsky.social · Nov 15

One of a set of articles in @upejournal.bsky.social discussing my contributions to urban studies. Endlessly grateful!

Christian Dimmer @remmid.bsky.social · Nov 15

You know that you did well as an academic if these things happen: Excellent open-access article in a special issue of Urban Political Ecology, celebrating the breadth and depth of @rkeil.bsky.social’s scholarship while charting new directions for urban praxis and research inspired by his work.

Governing a sub/urban planet - Jean-Paul D. Addie, Julie-Anne Boudreau, Sean Hertel, Murat Üçoğlu, 2025

This paper evaluates Roger Keil's influence on the fields of urban and regional governance and suburban studies, underscoring his foundational contribution...

journals.sagepub.com

Reposted by Zack Taylor

🇨🇦 CPSA ACSP 🇨🇦 @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social · Nov 6

Your research deserves a spotlight. ✨ Don't wait 😀⏰!
👉 Submit your work today shorturl.at/AgUow
@devoncantwell.bsky.social @matthewlebo.bsky.social
@apsa.bsky.social @csnrec.bsky.social @ipsa.org @jplewis.bsky.social @jrobkan.bsky.social @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social

Reposted by Zack Taylor

🇨🇦 CPSA ACSP 🇨🇦 @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social · Oct 31

🎃Don't let yr research ideas haunt you🕷️🧟‍♀️👾 👹 🙈—submit them #CPSA_ACSP26🧡
👉🏾 shorturl.at/AgUow
@devoncantwell.bsky.social @matthewlebo.bsky.social
@apsa.bsky.social @balsillieschool.bsky.social @csnrec.bsky.social @ipsa.org @jplewis.bsky.social
@jrobkan.bsky.social @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social

Reposted by Zack Taylor

🇨🇦 CPSA ACSP 🇨🇦 @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social · Oct 29

🔴2026 3MT Competition #CPSA_ACSP
Yr research. 3⃣ minutes. 1⃣ slide. 🚀
Think you can explain yr thesis in 180 seconds? We know you can!
👉🏾 shorturl.at/AgUow
@jplewis.bsky.social @jrobkan.bsky.social @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social @reprojusticemb.bsky.social
@lindsaylarios.bsky.social

Reposted by Zack Taylor

🇨🇦 CPSA ACSP 🇨🇦 @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social · Oct 28

📣2026 Posters Competition #CPSA_ACSP26
The perfect chance to share yr findings w/colleagues!
@yveilleuxlepage.bsky.social waits yr submissions🧮
NOV 10 25 shorturl.at/AgUow
@jplewis.bsky.social @jrobkan.bsky.social @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social @reprojusticemb.bsky.social @lindsaylarios.bsky.social

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Oct 15

“City Politics in Canada is destined to be a classic. … this volume offers fresh, timely, and incisive observations about the evolution and future of the Canadian urban experiment that will undoubtedly inspire and provoke a new generation of urbanists.” - Jen Nelles, Oxford Brookes University

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Oct 15

“The editors make a compelling case for placing municipalities at the centre of Canadian political science. Like the original, this book will quickly become indispensable to the field.” - Michael McGregor, Toronto Metropolitan University

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Oct 15

“In City Politics in Canada, … contributors paint a vivid picture of how the central cities in one of the world’s most urban nations navigated a time of often dizzying change” - John Lorinc, author of The New City @johnlorinc.bsky.social

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Oct 15

“City Politics in Canada tells a compelling story about Canadian urbanization. It is essential reading not just about Canadian city politics, but about cities in general.”
- Richardson Dilworth, Drexel University & editor, @urbanaffairsreview.bsky.social @richardsondilworth.bsky.social

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Oct 15

“This excellent and important book is a thorough, well researched, and fully modern look at the political science of Canada’s biggest core cities. … a long-overdue update to the original that matters well beyond those who study city governments – or run them.” - David Miller, former mayor of Toronto

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Oct 15

In this overview of political development in seven large Canadian cities, we illuminate the drivers of continuity and change in urban politics from the early 1980s to the present. Inspired by the 1983 volume (same title) edited by Andrew Sancton and the late Warren Magnusson. We have nice blurbs:

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Oct 15

Coming in December from @uoftpress.bsky.social: City Politics in Canada: 40 Years of Continuity and Change, co-edited with Martin Horak (@westernupolisci.bsky.social) and @jacklucas.bsky.social! utppublishing.com/doi/book/10....

Reposted by Zack Taylor

🇨🇦 CPSA ACSP 🇨🇦 @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social · Oct 13

🎥Pulling back the curtain✨Meet the section heads who are crafting an unforgettable #CPSA_ACSP26 experience-They're ❤️beat of the conference!
👉🏽 shorturl.at/AgUow
@jplewis.bsky.social @jrobkan.bsky.social @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social @reprojusticemb.bsky.social @lindsaylarios.bsky.social

Reposted by Jean‐François Daoust, Zack Taylor

🇨🇦 CPSA ACSP 🇨🇦 @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social · Sep 18

📣#CPSA_ACSP26 APPEL À PROPOSITIONS
Les politiques de division : conflit, communauté, curriculum
👉 shorturl.at/MvLqD
@jplewis.bsky.social @jrobkan.bsky.social @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social @jfdaoust.bsky.social @reprojusticemb.bsky.social @lindsaylarios.bsky.social @yveilleuxlepage.bsky.social

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Sep 15

Congratulations, Twan!

Reposted by Roger Keil, Zack Taylor

Urban Affairs Review @urbanaffairsreview.bsky.social · Aug 21

From Guest Editors @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social @rkeil.bsky.social, we’re delighted to announce the publication of this collection of essays celebrating the late great Warren Magnusson on our website!

www.urbanaffairsreview.com/warren-magnu...

Warren Magnusson Festschrift — Urban Affairs Review

www.urbanaffairsreview.com

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Aug 21

Rachel Magnusson, Martin Horak, Ross Beveridge, Delacey Tedesco, bill carroll, Andrew Sancton, Theresa Enright, Julie-Anne Boudreau, Engin Isin, Diane Davis, Margaret Kohn

Zack Taylor @bigcitypolitics.bsky.social · Aug 21

Thanks to @acuto.bsky.social @bagelwoman.bsky.social
‪@lorenking.org @shawkara.bsky.social @colinmcfarlane.bsky.social @ejmccann.bsky.social