Implementing integrated community sustainability planning: a comparative case study of three mid-sized municipalities in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Around the world, municipal governments are engaging with sustainability in daily practices. One approach gaining momentum in Canada is integrated community sustainability (ICS) planning, which involves integration of all sustainability pillars into policies and plans for more coordinated, inclusive approaches to planning and management. Drawing from established elements of effective ICS planning, we examined the implementation strategies of three mid-sized Ontario municipalities that use contrasting ICS planning approaches. While the cities studied address most elements of our analytical framework, each offers unique strengths and weaknesses. Overall, ICS planning appears flexible and adaptive enabling tailored approaches to unique political and fiscal realities.