City-regions have emerged as a critical focus of economic activity, governance and social organization as a result of the ongoing processes of economic restructuring. Canadian city-regions are limited in their capacity to respond to contemporary problems due to the functional and structural limitations of outdated governing systems. The Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) is a system of voluntary cooperation among twenty-one local municipalities. While this model has served the city-region well, its limits have been reached in terms of its ability to deliver necessary region-wide policy responses. Economic development, a crucial policy issue for urban regions, is characterized by vague and ill-functioning relationships and by poorly-defined policies and programs between the member municipalities and the regional tier. The GVRD is constrained by the fact that it can only do what is delegated by its members, and decisions are often compromised in order to suit conflicting local interests that exist throughout the region. A new governing model for the city-region should foster a regional vision, and should be appropriate for the responsibilities the city-region is expected to fulfill in this era of global competition. A single-tier government is the most appropriate model for Greater Vancouver, allowing comprehensive regional planning and innovative economic development to be carried out with a strong regional voice, and for decisions to be made with a greater degree of certainty, preserving the livability and economic health of Canada's fastest-growing city-region.

City-regions have emerged as a critical focus of economic activity, governance and social organization as a result of the ongoing processes of economic restructuring. Canadian city-regions are limited in their capacity to respond to contemporary problems due to the functional and structural limitations of outdated governing systems. The Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) is a system of voluntary cooperation among twenty-one local municipalities. While this model has served the city-region well, its limits have been reached in terms of its ability to deliver necessary region-wide policy responses. Economic development, a crucial policy issue for urban regions, is characterized by vague and ill-functioning relationships and by poorly-defined policies and programs between the member municipalities and the regional tier. The GVRD is constrained by the fact that it can only do what is delegated by its members, and decisions are often compromised in order to suit conflicting local interests that exist throughout the region. A new governing model for the city-region should foster a regional vision, and should be appropriate for the responsibilities the city-region is expected to fulfill in this era of global competition. A single-tier government is the most appropriate model for Greater Vancouver, allowing comprehensive regional planning and innovative economic development to be carried out with a strong regional voice, and for decisions to be made with a greater degree of certainty, preserving the livability and economic health of Canada's fastest-growing city-region. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

The objective of this research was to study the operation of the ambulance service in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Attention has been focused on operational policies which affect the system's ability to respond to calls, especially to emergency calls. The stated objective was accomplished by first reviewing the current demand for emergency ambulance services and the present operations. Next deterministic models were investigated and used to give "initial" locations of depots. Finally a computer simulation model was developed and used to conduct experiments, examining alternative ambulance systems. This research revealed that 1. computer simulation is an effective tool for analysing ambulance systems, and 2. there is a need for more emergency ambulance services, including more paramedics, in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

One of the most pressing problems faced by large urban areas is traffic congestion. Traffic congestion, or the urban transportation problem is not a new phenomenon, having existed since the process of urbanization began. Low density urbanization or suburbanization, facilitated by the availability of large numbers of automobiles has contributed to the present traffic problem. The causes of the problem have long been recognized by planners and decision makers, and viable solutions have been proposed. However, in spite of solutions being known, the problem still exists and has become worse. The purpose of this study is to observe how planners have dealt with the land use and transportation factors which contribute to the ever worsening traffic problems in a suburban area. It is hypothesized that the fragmented nature of the planning and decision making processes have resulted in a lack of co-ordination and co-operation in planning to resolve the urban transportation problem. The objectives of this thesis are to gain an understanding of: 1) why the urban transportation problem exists; 2) the planning process involved in finding solutions to this problem; and 3) the effect of the fragmentation of authority over various factors of land use and transportation. The methodology includes the following steps. The first is a literature review of the current thought on the subject of traffic congestion, and the factors causing it. The second is a literature review of the planning process and the theoretical foundations of current thought on land use and transportation studies. This will be followed by a case study using a descriptive historical approach. The case study reviews developments as well as past land use and transportation studies for the study area. The fourth step involves an interpretation of the information provided in the case study in light of the literature review. The area chosen for the case study is the Greater Vancouver Regional District's North East Sector. This Sector has experienced accelerated development and an increasing 111 population dependant upon the automobile for mobility. Low density land use, has created automobile dependent development, which make an automobile a necessity. A large percentage of the workforce in the area has to commute to other areas. Numerous studies have been commissioned to find solutions to the North East Sector's transportation problems. Despite the realization of the causes of traffic congestion, the solutions presented in the studies have not been comprehensively implemented to achieve workable results. There were two major findings of this study. The first is that planners and decision makers are aware of the relationship between land use and transportation planning. The second is the fragmentation of authority for different aspects of land use and transportation has frustrated attempts to resolve traffic congestion, through a fragmenting of the planning and decision making process.

One of the most pressing problems faced by large urban areas is traffic congestion. Traffic congestion, or the urban transportation problem is not a new phenomenon, having existed since the process of urbanization began. Low density urbanization or suburbanization, facilitated by the availability of large numbers of automobiles has contributed to the present traffic problem. The causes of the problem have long been recognized by planners and decision makers, and viable solutions have been proposed. However, in spite of solutions being known, the problem still exists and has become worse. The purpose of this study is to observe how planners have dealt with the land use and transportation factors which contribute to the ever worsening traffic problems in a suburban area. It is hypothesized that the fragmented nature of the planning and decision making processes have resulted in a lack of co-ordination and co-operation in planning to resolve the urban transportation problem. The objectives of this thesis are to gain an understanding of: 1) why the urban transportation problem exists; 2) the planning process involved in finding solutions to this problem; and 3) the effect of the fragmentation of authority over various factors of land use and transportation. The methodology includes the following steps. The first is a literature review of the current thought on the subject of traffic congestion, and the factors causing it. The second is a literature review of the planning process and the theoretical foundations of current thought on land use and transportation studies. This will be followed by a case study using a descriptive historical approach. The case study reviews developments as well as past land use and transportation studies for the study area. The fourth step involves an interpretation of the information provided in the case study in light of the literature review. The area chosen for the case study is the Greater Vancouver Regional District's North East Sector. This Sector has experienced accelerated development and an increasing 111 population dependant upon the automobile for mobility. Low density land use, has created automobile dependent development, which make an automobile a necessity. A large percentage of the workforce in the area has to commute to other areas. Numerous studies have been commissioned to find solutions to the North East Sector's transportation problems. Despite the realization of the causes of traffic congestion, the solutions presented in the studies have not been comprehensively implemented to achieve workable results. There were two major findings of this study. The first is that planners and decision makers are aware of the relationship between land use and transportation planning. The second is the fragmentation of authority for different aspects of land use and transportation has frustrated attempts to resolve traffic congestion, through a fragmenting of the planning and decision making process. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

This thesis examines women's issues and the political agenda. Several factors affect the likelihood of a women's issue getting onto the formal political agenda of government (municipal, provincial, and federal). The nature of the issue (the degree to which it challenges the status quo) affects the political outcome: those issues which have fit into current and historical legislative patterns (such as welfare state guidelines) have been more successful. A patriarchal family ideology places limitations on the proper role of women: women have held primary responsibility for the care of children and family. Women's labour force participation creates parameters for government involvement in issues such as childcare. The lobbying and organizational skills of the political actors involved are prerequisites for gaining access to government decision-makers. While the entry of women into the political arena has not insured the entry of women's issues onto the political agenda, female politicians have been especially important in bringing women's issues forward for debate and action. However, government bureaucracy has often been a barrier in the implementation of legislation concerning women's issues. I present a case study of a particular women's issue (childcare) at the municipal level of government. Five locations are examined in the Greater Vancouver area, using a combination of qualitative methods (personal interviews) and quantitative research techniques (government statistics, official documents, and reports from a variety of community organizations). In spite of the steadily increasing labour force participation of women in all locations, the response of local governments to the childcare issue has varied greatly — childcare is on Vancouver's political agenda but not that of the four district municipalities examined. Vancouver's involvement has been more comprehensive and longterm (more childcare spaces, an involved Social Planning Department, two task forces, a Children's Advocate, and buildings and sites for childcare purposes). The response of municipal councils continues to reflect patriarchal notions of the family (where childcare is a private, family responsibility). Alternatively, Vancouver council has recognized a permanent restructuring of the family and the ongoing involvement of the larger community in childcare. At the same time, the lobbying approach of Vancouver childcare advocates has followed long established patterns concerning childcare and governments -- the argument has been based on child welfare, not the rights or welfare of women. / Arts, Faculty of / Sociology, Department of / Graduate