Medical studies show that certain urban designs can prevent or reduce many of the mental illnesses present in Quebecers. Would you like your environment to help protect you against these illnesses? Click on the themes to discover the commitments you should ask your candidates:
Protect me from stress, depression and anxiety and help my child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Commitment 14
Green my city
The people living in very green neighborhoods are more likely to have good mental health than people living in concrete and asphalt neighborhoods. In fact, the scientific medical literature shows that an optimal canopy (the area of the city covered by the tops of trees) of at least 40% could reduce the prevalence of stress by about 39%132 and depression by 7%.133 Other health benefits have also been reported, such as a reduction in anxiety and symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). 134 135
Targets
- Target 28: Aim for an optimal canopy cover of at least 40% of the urbanized area, following the example of Toronto136 and the signatories of the 2020 Declaration for Resilience in Canadian Cities. 137
- Target 29: Introduce strong municipal bylaws to protect urban trees, including consideration of existing trees in defining building footprints, protective measures during construction and deterrent fines.
- Target 31: Adopt a Toronto-style shadow code. 138
Protect me from dementia and my child from autism and cognitive delays
Commitment 12
Fight air pollution
Recent medical studies link air pollution to dementia139 in the elderly and possibly to autism and cognitive delays in children.140 141 142 In Quebec, the transportation sector alone is responsible for 62% of all air contaminant emissions143, which means that air pollution levels are often higher near busy highways and boulevards. The economic value of the health impacts of air pollution is estimated at $30 billion per year in Quebec. 144 A modal shift to public transit, cycling and walking helps fight air pollution. Urban trees capture about 24% of air pollutants on average. 145
Targets
- Target 26: Aim for zero air pollution days in my neighborhood during the year (air pollutant levels below the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards 2025 of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment).
- Target 27: Prohibit highway construction within 300 m of my residence, 146 my place of work or my children’s place of study.
- Target 1: In urban centers, aim for every citizen to live within 500 m of a transit stop. 147
- Target 2: In urban centers, aim for two-thirds of urban trips to be made by walking, cycling or public transit by 2040, as in Vancouver. 148
- Target 3: Provide quality urban and regional public transit service by requiring a one cent per liter gasoline contribution from motorists. 149
- Target 4: Aim for every citizen to live within 300 m of a bike path, as in Barcelona. 150
- Target 5: Provide comfortable and attractive bicycle routes, including trees, shelters, street furniture, public restrooms, water fountains, etc., and map out locations of toilets and water fountains. 151
- Target 6: Aim to have a pedestrian route (sidewalk or marked pedestrian space) in front of every residence in urban areas. 152 153
- Target 7: Provide comfortable and attractive pedestrian routes, including trees, shelters, street furniture, public toilets, water fountains, dog waste dispensers, etc., and map out locations of toilets and water fountains. 154
- Target 28: Aim for an optimal canopy cover of at least 40% of the urbanized area, following the example of Toronto155 and the signatories of the 2020 Declaration for Resilience in Canadian Cities. 156
- Target 29: Introduce strong municipal bylaws to protect urban trees, including consideration of existing trees in defining building footprints, protective measures during construction and deterrent fines.
Protect me from loneliness
Commitment 4
Expand pedestrian networks (sidewalks, trails, pedestrian streets)
Attractive, tree-lined, 157 comfortable, safe, continuous, interconnected pedestrian networks with destinations of interest in a dense urban fabric encourage walking.158 People who walk have more social interaction than those who travel by automobile. 159
Targets
- Target 6: Aim to have a pedestrian route (sidewalk or marked pedestrian space) in front of every residence in urban areas. 160 161
- Target 7: Improve the comfort and attractiveness of pedestrian routes by providing trees, shelters, street furniture, public toilets, water fountains, dog waste dispensers, etc. and map out locations of toilets and water fountains. 162
Commitment 5
Develop a city of short distances
A city of short distances encourages walking. People who walk have more social interaction than those who drive. 163
Target
- Target 8: In urban centers, aim for all citizens to reside in a neighborhood with a Walk Score (www.walkscore.com) of at least 70 out of 100. 164
Commitment 6
Develop interconnected green spaces close to citizens
Green spaces help break social isolation by creating meeting places. 165
Targets
- Target 9: Aim for every citizen to live within 300 m of at least 0.5 to 1 hectare of green space. 166
- Target 10: Aim to have at least 12% of the land within the urbanized area and at least 17% of the total land area protected as natural areas by 2030. 167
- Target 11: Aim to have all natural areas, green spaces and waterfront parks interconnected by naturalized corridors, the simplest expression of which would be tree-lined streets.
- Target 12: Aim to substantially increase public access to lakes and rivers for lakeside towns.
Always think about my health when doing projects in my neighborhood
Commitment 11
Conduct a health impact assessment168 on significant projects in a living environment
The way a neighborhood is developed has a major impact on the health of residents and health care costs.
Targets
- Target 23: Conduct a health impact assessment for any significant project in my neighborhood, such as the extension or addition of automobile lanes, the destruction of green space, the massive cutting of urban trees, the installation or expansion of a polluting industry, etc.
- Target 24: Choose design options that support my well-being and health and reduce health care costs.
- Target 25: Inform the public about the features and benefits of healthy urban design.