Rethinking public land ownership and urban development: A Canadian perspective

Traditionally, scholars of urban development have focused almost exclusively on the behaviour of private landowners, on the assumption that private developers invariably dominate urban politics and governance. Yet a closer look at the Canadian experience reveals that public property in Canada's cities is abundant, and that public landowners often have a defining impact on urban development outcomes. What is lacking are systematic analyses of the relationship between public land ownership and urban development, and the forces that shape the behaviour of public landowners.