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The University of Winnipeg

Municipal Finance

Creating a Framework for Comparison of Municipal Finance within Complex Systems of Local Governance in Canada and England

In partnership with the LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) at the University of Northumbria, England, and funded through a SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grant, this project synthesizes existing knowledge concerning municipal finance systems in England and Canada using a complex adaptive system (CAS) framework.

The objective is to improve understanding of the connected complexity of municipal finance and to aid comparison of municipal finance within broader systems of governance and across international jurisdictions. Proponents of alternative approaches to finance rarely account for the variations in different jurisdictions’ systems of governance and how they shape municipal financing, making effective comparison difficult. And, while stakeholders associated with public funding in both England and Canada often refer to the ‘municipal finance system’, or associated governance systems in debate, it is rare for any analysis of the system itself, or to consider reforms or policy interventions from the point of view of the system. In response, there are three main components to this project:

  1. synthesize existing academic and grey literature on municipal finance and governance in Canada and England,
  2. synthesize existing studies of governance that utilize complex adaptive systems as their primary framework; and,
  3. create preliminary profiles of the governance systems in England, Canada, and each of its ten provinces.

Initial comparative work between Canada and England to be completed in May 2026, with profiles of each Canadian province in autumn 2026, and follow-up research papers anticipated in 2027.

The IUS is grateful for our collaborators on this project:

  • Aaron Moore Political Science, The University of Winnipeg
  • Indira Cowkur PhD Candidate, Dept of City Planning, University of Manitoba
  • Kevin Muldoon-Smith Local Government Information Unit, University of Northumbria, England
  • Andrew M. Walker Local Government Information Unit, University of Northumbria, England
  • Scott McCullough Institute of Urban Studies, The University of Winnipeg