NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

/ As, Imdat; Basu, Prithwish; & Talwar, Pratap. (Eds.). — Amsterdam ; Cambridge, MA : Elsevier, 2022.

1 online resource (xv, 385 pages) : colour illustrations, graphs, colour maps, plans, PDF.

Chapters review the theory and historical context of artificial intelligence as it relates to urban planning and design, describe AI technologies and techniques for urban planning and analysis as well as using AI in urban scale research, and explore case studies of AI analytics for urban planning and design.

/ Flynn, Alexandra; Albert, Richard; & Des Rosiers, Nathalie. (Eds.). — Montréal ; Kingston : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2024.

1 online resource (xiv, 282 pages) : PDF. — (McGill-Queen's studies in urban governance ; 18).

The essays consider and propose ways to address and recognize the growing importance of municipal governments within Canada's federalism under the Constitution. Topics addressed include aspects of municipal autonomy (i.e., legal empowerment, fiscal capacity and immunity); municipal equalization regimes; Québec's "spheres of jurisdiction" model; the principle of subsidiarity; Dillon rule; a legal test for subsidiarity; power sharing arrangements versus a government-centric model; instituting a duty to consult with Indigenous nations for municipalities; devolution and protection of cities through constitutional reform; and recognizing municipal governments in provincial constitutions.

/ Flaherty, Michelle Poché. (Ed.). — Sixth edition. — Washington, DC : ICMA Press, 2023.

1 online resource (ix, 527 pages) : illustrations (some colour), PDF.

The book provides guidance for municipal managers on supervising and improving the productivity of employees. Chapters address the roles of a supervisor; ethics; time and project management; tea, building and motivation; hiring and onboarding employees; managing employee performance; financial management and strategic planning; data, information management and technology; diversity, equity and inclusion; anti-harassment, safe and respectful workplaces; emergency preparedness, response and recovery in the workplace; customer service; written and electronic communication; public and media relations; interpersonal communication and team conflict resolution; and leadership change and resilience. Advice is grounded on the laws and practices in the United States.

/ Hughes, James W. (Ed.). — Toronto : James Lorimer & Company, Ltd., 2024.

184 pages.

The introduction defines and presents a typology of homelessness prevention. The first part explores pathways into homelessness and prevention strategies and government policies for specific groups: low-income renters and renovictions due to financialization, victims of violence, former incarcerated felons, youth and people with mental illness. It also addresses how shelters can prevent homelessness. The second part focuses on preventing Indigenous homelessness.

/ Brewer, Cam; Hammond, Herb; & Markey, Sean. — Vancouver : UBC Press, 2024.

1 online resource (xvi, 236 pages) : illustrations (chiefly colour), colour maps, PDF.

The book discusses the social, ecological and economic costs of removing nature from cities, the role of urban planning in removing nature from cities, green planning, the guiding principles of planning nature-first cities and urban ecosystem restoration, the challenges and processes of implementing nature-directed stewardship (NDS) in urban planning and design, and the development of an NDS plan for the Still Creek watershed in East Vancouver.

/ Whitzman, Carolyn. — [Vancouver, BC] : On Point Press, 2024.

1 online resource (276 pages) : illustrations, PDF.

The book discusses the origin of Canada's housing crisis, the types of housing needed, the strategies toward ending homelessness and the costs, strategies to scale up non-market and affordable housing production, ending exclusionary zoning and NIMBYism, missing middle housing, renters' rights, the future of affordable home ownership, the federal governments' support for housing, funding arrangements for non-market housing, and making taxation of housing fairer. It highlights international best practices for rental housing (Germany, Austria and Switzerland); quickly building housing (Singapore, Japan and Sweden); and affordable housing strategies (France, Denmark and Finland). It recommends approaches for the federal and provincial governments.

/ Flynn, Alexandra; Albert, Richard; & Des Rosiers, Nathalie. (Eds.). — Montréal ; Kingston : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2024.

1 online resource (xiv, 315 pages) : graphs, PDF. — (McGill-Queen's studies in urban governance ; 19).

The book is comprised of essays on the status, governance and powers of cities under Canada's Constitution. It is divided into three parts: (1) the legal history of cities, municipal financing and taxation, protection of democratic rights, and the Constitution; (2) present areas of conflict and innovation with respect to the status of municipalities, including municipal–Indigenous relations and the ability of cities to respond during the COVID-19 pandemic with the emergency powers granted to them; and (3) potential revisions to the constitutional model that would protect the powers and status of cities in Canada. It includes comparisons with the constitutional status and powers of cities in Brazil, Italy, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.