It’s unclear whether the new council-approved ward boundaries will be in place for next year’s municipal election after an appeal was filed.
In a 9-4 decision this past June, city council approved a series of ward boundary changes in an effort to address current and forecasted population disparities between wards. That decision maintains the existing six-ward system, using alternative boundaries, with two councillors elected from each.
An appeal of that decision, specifically the ward boundary revisions, was filed Aug. 10, notes an ongoing city litigation update report released on Friday.
City clerk Stephen O’Brien said efforts are underway to set a hearing date as soon as possible, in hopes of having the issue resolved one way or another by the end of the year. If not, the current ward boundaries will remain in place until at least the 2026 municipal election, including next year’s trek to the polls.
“I feel like we’re in a good place,” he said of having a hearing date set soon.
Attempts to reach the Ontario Land Tribunal for comment were not immediately successful.
The appeal was filed by Alan Hall, notes the staff report. Hall delegated in front of city council and provided written correspondence during the public input portion of the ward boundary review.
“The review of ward boundaries should start from the point of treating all residents of the city equally, and then making necessary changes to follow natural boundaries, avoid dividing recognized neighbourhoods, and keeping voters with common interests in the same ward,” Hall said in a June submission.
“The consultants’ option (subsequently approved by council) … would simply redraw the wards in each half of the city (adding the small part of Ward 5 to the north) without resolving the population imbalance.
“My alternative map would create two wards in the south, three wards in the north, and a central ward which would include related communities along the Speed and Eramosa rivers.”
Current ward populations in the city vary by as much as 10,200 residents, roughly the population of Elmira.
Ward 6 is the largest, with 27,000 residents. For comparison, Ward 3 has 17,500 residents.
A team of consultants recommended the city move to an eight-ward system, with one full-time councillor from each, in addition to a mayor.
Council made no decision in June regarding the part or full-time status of councillors, opting to leave that up to a remuneration advisory committee to determine.
