The government of Canada has announced the Data for Canadian Cities Pilot Project to build data capacity for Canadian municipalities to better plan and implement their investments in public infrastructure.
Since 2014, the World Council on City Data (WCCD) – a not-for-profit organization – has been working with over 100 cities globally to embrace standardized city data to inform better decision-making, and to drive public and private investment in cities of all sizes.
As part of this pilot project, the Government of Canada has approved $3 million in funding for the WCCD to work with 15 municipalities across Canada to help them become certified under ISO 37120, the first international standard for city data. This is a globally standardized data set that measures quality of life and delivery of municipal services.
This data will enable Canadian municipalities to compare their progress against their counterparts across the country and around the world in a number of domains. These domains include the environment, economy, education, governance, finance and transportation.
“Data and evidence is important to building strong, sustainable communities, and it is vital that municipalities are equipped with new tools to better plan and build public infrastructure,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “This important project with the World Council on City Data will give municipal leaders the tools they need to build better communities, allowing for smart investments in infrastructure that will help grow the middle class and provide Canadian municipalities with new opportunities for growth and prosperity today and into the future.”
Data compiled through this project will enable these municipalities to better plan and implement infrastructure investments as well as understand the impacts of those investments on economic prosperity and the quality of life of their residents
