A New Perspective
Diversity has propelled a significant change in Toronto as well as the rest of Canada. Immigration continues to change the face of Canada’s largest cities creating a shift in perspectives, ideas and a growing need to change the way social planning is done. Social Planning has evolved from a task predominantly performed by Government into a field with a number of players. The Alternative Planning Group (APG) is an example of such players.
During the past twenty years Toronto has seen a transformation in its demographic make up. The high number of immigrants choosing Toronto as their place of residence has resulted in making it the most diverse city in Canada and one of the most cities diverse in the globe. Toronto is now in a stage of possible unprecented growth due to the continuing economic force that diversity presents, especially in the attraction of immigrants with the qualifications to join and contribute to a growing and expanding economic output. For growth to occur the need to include immigrants in all aspects of life is a necessity, thus social planning has the ability to increase both human and social capital as important components in the success of Toronto not only to continue being the country’s economic engine, but also to strengthen its place on the international stage through the creativity and innovation by all its residents.
Since 1999 the APG has been at the forefront of creation and innovation in social and economic planning the four partners have over sixty years of combined experience in this area, making the APG an organization with a strong history in working with the community in the areas of advocacy, planning and research and development such as the February 2004 report (Alternative Social Planning: A Paradigm Shift Developing and Inclusive, Healthy Toronto) on the state of social planning in Toronto. The new approach to social and economic planning involves the current idea that since visible minorities now make up almost half of Toronto’s population the need for representation at all levels of decision making and reflect current realities and at the same time taking into consideration that immigration will continue to grow as Canada’s population continues to age.
Social planning also takes into planning forecast that Toronto will take in up to one million new residents within the next ten years, many of whom will be new immigrants since 73% (source: Toronto Star) of new immigrants will decide to make Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver their new home.
The challenge is to develop social planning so that it is done in an equitable manner where all players are able to contribute to the organic (ongoing) evolution that is social planning. |
