This research explores how Ontario municipalities can use community benefits to maximize social and economic outcomes through better infrastructure planning and investment, in order to deliver better outcomes for people and communities. It addresses how community benefits can be aligned with or incorporated into Ontario’s municipal asset management program and provides preliminary thinking as to how community benefits can be evaluated.

Download Realizing Social and Economic Objectives through Infrastructure Planning and Investment

This research is a starting point to enable principled, evidence-based, and strategic long-term infrastructure planning allowing for physical, social, and economic benefits for local communities.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
   Introduction
   Document structure
   Findings
   Recommendations
   Next Steps
Section 1: Introduction
   Context
   Purpose of the Study
   Study methodology
Section 2: Background
   What are community benefits and why use them?
   Jurisdictional Scan
   Lessons learned from other jurisdictions
Section 3: Policy and legislative context
   Relevant existing provincial policy and legislation
   Municipal infrastructure
   Opportunities to incorporate community benefits into municipal infrastructure decisions
Section 4: How could community benefits be evaluated in Ontario municipalities?
   Background to evaluation
   Thinking through community benefits evaluation
Recommended framework
   Essential components
   Other recommendations and considerations
   Options/possibilities
Conclusion and next steps

SOURCE: Evergreen