Roots of the Problem
The roots of the urban problem lie in the very process of urbanization itself. This in turn is an essential dimension of national economic development. Solving the urban problem requires first and foremost a clear understanding of this relationship. Attempts to remove the symptoms alone have been and will continue to be as effective as pushing on a string. Any long-term solution must deal with the urbanization process. It must remove the inherent constraint of space which leads to the degenerative conditions associated with urbanization, while preserving the great benefits that are created by that process. To expect solutions on a scale that is far superceded by the magnitude of the problem is naive. yet this problem will be the once facing most Canadians in the decades to come. Dealing with it will not and cannot be simple. Alternatives are at hand that might provide the oslution, but they require a new depth and breadth of vision and of commitment -- nothing less than a national urban policy.
