Reminder: take the survey to help inform the City’s Ward Boundary Review

Jan. 18, 2021 10:00 a.m.
City of Vaughan
​Survey closes Friday, Jan. 22

Vaughan’s comprehensive review of the city’s five ward boundaries is underway. The objective of the Ward Boundary Review is to assess whether Vaughan’s present wards are continuing to provide effective, equitable and democratic representation. As public input is a vital part of this process, the City of Vaughan is encouraging the community to participate in an online survey to help define priorities, assess the current ward boundaries and inform the review. Visit vaughan.ca/WardBoundary to take the survey until Friday, Jan. 22. 

In addition to the online survey, a series of four virtual public open houses were hosted earlier this month to give participants an opportunity to learn and raise questions about the review while providing feedback on the current ward structure. A digital version of this presentation has also been made available at vaughan.ca/WardBoundary. 

A second online survey is planned to go live in March 2021, which will provide citizens with the opportunity to identify which ward boundary alternatives make the most sense, if any. Maps of additional ward boundaries will be shared at this time for consideration and comment. 

All feedback gathered through public engagement opportunities, including online surveys and virtual information sessions, 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. 

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. More information about the City’s review is also available in this video. 

Why is the City initiating a Ward Boundary Review?

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. 

For more information or to participate in the survey, visit vaughan.ca/WardBoundary. 

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