Wednesday, January 6, 2021 – The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) continues to track the impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian cities, with a third COVID Signpost report released today that signals a growing disconnect between virus-related research and recovery response.

Of the 573,000 cases and 15,500 deaths announced on January 3^rd 2021, Canada’s 20 largest cities (representing 42 per cent of Canada’s population) have experienced over 65 per cent of cases (373,319) and 69 per cent of deaths (10,725).

However, experiences across the country have vastly differed. For example, cities like Halifax, London, and Vancouver have experienced modest increases in the number of cases per 100,000 people. Edmonton, on the other hand, which had 4000 cases at Day 200, has endured more than 43,000 cases 100 days later.

This has had a devastating impact on main streets and downtowns across the country. Small businesses have been asked to meet a range of safety protocols to help mitigate the spread of the virus, and fewer residents are congregating on main streets, leading to dramatic declines in foot traffic and consumer patterns, as well as increases in vandalism and crime. As the report suggests, examining the risks and vulnerabilities in each city and neighbourhood is critical to not only understand the relationship between places and cases, but how recovery efforts can best support local populations most seriously affected. 

Aujourd'hui, nous disposons de beaucoup plus de connaissances et de données sur le COVID-19, mais le nombre de cas et de décès est plus élevé que jamais. Le décalage entre ce que nous savons du virus et les réponses qui y sont apportées met en danger les communautés les plus vulnérables. Par exemple, nous continuons à observer des impacts disproportionnés du COVID-19 dans les quartiers où vivent les personnes les plus marginalisées, mais nous manquons encore de données suffisamment granulaires au niveau des quartiers pour élaborer des stratégies appropriées afin d'atténuer ces impacts.

"Nous continuons à voir le COVID-19 aggraver les inégalités existantes dans les espaces urbains", déclare Mary W. Rowe, présidente-directrice générale de CUI. "Ce dont nous avons besoin maintenant, c'est de solutions hyperlocales qui endiguent son impact et renforcent la résilience des communautés urbaines les plus menacées".

Les données citées dans les recherches précédentes de CUI et renforcées ici confirment ce que nous savons déjà : Le COVID-19 est une crise urbaine qui nécessite des solutions urbaines. Les dirigeants locaux ont besoin de plus de pouvoir et de ressources pour mettre en œuvre les solutions dont leurs communautés ont besoin, à la fois dans l'immédiat et à la suite de la crise.

CUI began this work with Signpost 100, which was released in June 2020, and followed up with Signpost 200, which was released in September 2020. This Signpost 300 report offers a snapshot as we pass the 300-day mark, with plans for a more comprehensive COVID 365 examination in March 2021.

More details can be found at COVIDSignpost.ca.

For media inquiries, contact:

Jamie Basian
jbasian@canurb.org
416 365-0816 ext. 231

À propos de l'Institut urbain du Canada

CUI is Canada’s Urban Institute. We are the national platform that houses the best in Canadian city-building – where policymakers, urban professionals, civic and business leaders, community activists and academics can learn, share and collaborate with one another from coast to coast to coast.