Economics

In Canada, under the Constitution, cities are creations of their provincial governments. They have no independent status. Yet four out of five Canadians live in cities and their suburbs. Cities run transit systems, operate local roads, licence businesses, and, in Ontario, provide social services. They operate public health. They pick up the trash, shovel the snow. Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said "if Ottawa disappeared, no one might notice for 90 days or more; if Edmonton (Alberta's capital) disappeared it probably wouldn't be noticed for over a month; if the Calgary city government disappeared, you'd notice it within a day at most." Is it time to update our Constitution to give our cities independent power? Or does the current system work just tine to make sure the cities and the rural hinterlands support each toerh? This is an opinion piece, so research the issues and write up your position.