Get involved in Vaughan’s Ward Boundary Review
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Attend one of four virtual public open houses in January to provide comments
As the City of Vaughan continues its comprehensive review of the city’s five ward boundaries, the community is once again encouraged to join the conversation. In addition to the online survey, a series of virtual public open houses are being hosted this month. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and raise questions about the review while providing feedback on the current ward structure. Register at vaughan.ca/WardBoundary.
As the City of Vaughan continues its comprehensive review of the city’s five ward boundaries, the community is once again encouraged to join the conversation. In addition to the online survey, a series of virtual public open houses are being hosted this month. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and raise questions about the review while providing feedback on the current ward structure. Register at vaughan.ca/WardBoundary.
The objective of the Ward Boundary Review is to assess whether Vaughan’s present wards are continuing to provide effective, equitable and democratic representation. Public input is a vital part of this process. Four virtual public open houses will be held:
- Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
The online survey will also be available until Friday, Jan. 22. Responses will help define priorities for the City as the review begins.
A second online survey is planned to go live in March 2021, when citizens will have the opportunity to assist in identifying which ward boundary alternatives make the most sense. Maps of alternative ward boundaries will also be shared with the public for consideration and comment. To receive up-to-date and relevant information on this project, citizens can sign up for the email distribution list by contacting wardboundary@vaughan.ca.
Feedback gathered in this review will be compared to current population trends and legal precedence. A summary report will be sent to Council in May 2021. In June, Council will review and determine whether to adjust, divide, dissolve or maintain the city’s existing ward boundaries. If changes are required, confirmation will be made well ahead of the municipal election in 2022.
Why is the City initiating a Ward Boundary Review?
Over the last decade, Vaughan’s population has grown by more than 28 per cent. However, the growth has not been uniform across the community and has resulted in population disparity among the five wards. With this Ward Boundary Review, the City is moving forward with its long-standing commitment of ensuring all areas of the municipality are represented fairly, accurately and democratically so citizens’ voices and needs are reflected in Council decision-making. This review is limited to consideration of the five ward boundaries, not the Mayor or Regional Councillors.
In completing the review, the suitability of the present or proposed wards using the following guiding principles will be evaluated, all in accordance with the Direction for Ward Boundary and Council Composition Review presented to Council in May 2020:
- representation by population
- consideration of current and future population trends
- consideration of physical and natural boundaries
- consideration of communities of interest
- effective representation
Effective representation has become an integral part of the evaluation of electoral systems in Canada. It will serve as an evaluation and will address questions such as:
- Are the individual wards proposed reasonable and clear units of representation?
- Do they provide equitable access to Councillors for residents of the municipality?
- Are the proposed wards of a size, scale and shape that a representative can serve a Councillor’s constituents successfully?
- Do the wards constitute a system that can be judged to deliver effective representation even if some of the specific principles are only partially successful?
Although the municipality began with all Members of Vaughan Council elected at-large, a ward system – a geographical division of a city or town for administrative and political purposes – was established in 1985. The configuration was modified in an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), now known as the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, order in 1994 from three wards electing a total of five Councillors to five wards each electing one Councillor. Vaughan’s current system of representation consists of a nine-member Council, composed of the Mayor as the Head of Council, three Local and Regional Councillors (elected at-large) and five City Councillors (each representing one ward). Based on a decision made by York Regional Council, Vaughan will elect a fourth Regional Councillor in the 2022 municipal election. Some minor boundary changes were approved before the 2000 and 2006 municipal elections, however, Vaughan’s current five wards have been in place without significant change since 2009. In 2016, an independent boundary review brought an alternative configuration to Council, but it was not adopted.
The Ward Boundary Review supports the City of Vaughan’s 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan priority of governance and fiscal responsibility through commitment to holding the public’s trust with inclusive, transparent and accountable decision-making, responsible financial management, superior service delivery, and effective communication.
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