Should corporations care about civic matters? Can they play a role in tackling tough societal issues like urban renewal? At TD, we believe that the resources and knowledge of business can be applied to help address challenges facing society and that stepping forward beyond our walls is a must.

We actively contribute to public policy discussions and participate in multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on civic issues. Here are a few highlights:

Sharing valuable research
There are both new and ongoing challenges facing our communities and cities - affordable housing, aging infrastructure and environmental protection, to name a few. Over the past few years, our in-house TD Economics team has studied some of these issues and published a special series of research reports offering their findings and recommendations. Here are some examples:

• Market-based Solutions to Protect the Environment (2007)
• Literacy Matters: A Call for Action (2007)
• Converting Quebec's Strengths Into Prosperity (2007)
• Creating the Winning Conditions for Public-Private Partnerships (2006)
• Welfare to Work in Ontario: Still the Road Less Travelled (2005)
• Mind the Gap: Finding the Money to Upgrade Canada's Aging Infrastructure (2004)

The research series is part of our effort to provide helpful input to the development of public policy - by raising awareness of topical issues, promoting discussion and generating ideas for reform and change. A number of organizations have praised TD for adding credibility and a greater sense of urgency to key societal challenges.

Collaborating to improve our communities and cities
Many TD executives and employees across the organization are involved in external committees, summits and conferences, working together with community and business leaders to tackle civic matters.

TD also supports and provides funding to organizations whose mission is to improve our cities. Among our activities:

• The Learning Partnership (TLP): TLP brings together the public and private sectors to strengthen public education in Canada. Our Chief Economic, Don Drummond, co-chaired a research committee looking at the impact of changing demographics on the public education system, and TD was a lead sponsor of the project.
• Canadian Urban Institute: Through research and events, this not-for-profit group that TD supports works to connect people, money and ideas to projects that advance the understanding of urban agendas.
• Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance: This program of the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for International Studies facilitates research on public policy issues. Support from TD helped launch the institute, and we continue to provide funding for its activities.
• Support for our home city: Headquartered in Toronto, TD both supports and benefits from the continued health of Canada's largest city. For instance, we are an ongoing member of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, a public-private-sector collaboration to protect and enhance the city as a leading financial centre.

Supporting the democratic process
To bolster the democratic process, every year TD donates to various political parties and candidates in Canada. We also sponsor and support forums, civic initiatives and other activities that foster discussion on public policy issues and widen understanding of democratic processes. Examples include:

• The Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs Leadership Forum at Carleton University in Ottawa, which connects leaders from the private, public and voluntary sectors to discuss perspectives on emerging national issues.
• The Advisory Panel to the Council of Canadian Academies, which is reviewing the state of science in Canada.
• Programs that give the next generation an opportunity to experience the parliamentary process and how government works. These include the federal Parliamentary Internship Programme, the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme and the Forum for Young Canadians.
• Equal Voice, whose mission is to promote the election of more women at all levels of government across Canada.