Boundary changes could help Toronto keep up with population growth: report

WATCH ABOVE: A city-commissioned report has put forward five options aimed to even out population/ward distribution that could be implemented before 2018 election. Erica Vella has the story.

TORONTO — A city commissioned review of Toronto’s boundaries has put forward a report that includes five options that aim to re-align the city’s ward system by the 2018 municipal election.

Currently, there are a total of 44 wards with 44 city councillors representing them.

“I said this back in January and I’ll say it again, not one member of the public has said to me ‘we need more government and more politicians’… The last thing we need is more politicians,” Mayor John Tory said in a statement.

“I think the public wants to see the politicians we already have focus on working together to get things done for Toronto, like building more transit, cutting traffic congestion, building more affordable housing and attracting jobs and investment to the city.”

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The report suggests different options that could see ward population and number of councillors change to support an anticipated population growth that would total more than three million.

The options are as follows:

• Option one: Minimal change, average population 61,000, number of wards: 47
• Option two: 44 wards, average population 70,000, number of wards: 44
• Option three: Small wards, average population 50,000, number of wards: 58
• Option four: Large wards, average population 75,000, number of wards: 38
• Option five: Natural/Physical boundaries, average population 70,000, number of wards: 41

The report says in 2014, there was a large range in ward populations.

Twelve public meeting will be held across the city in September and October and a final report is scheduled to go to the Executive Committee and City Council in May 2016.