You’re Invited: Toronto Ward Boundary Review’s Public Meetings Jan.7, 8, and 10 + Online Survey

“Wards are an essential part of Toronto’s local government system and central to how Toronto’s local government works.”

Voters in each ward of the City of Toronto elect one Councillor to deal with local and city-wide issues and represent their interests on City Council.

Toronto (Ontario, Canada) has 44 wards, which vary in size, demographic composition and population. The average area for a ward is 15km².
The current ward boundaries have been in place since 2000 when a new ward structure was devised based generally on the federal ridings (electoral districts) in Toronto. Each riding was split to create the current system of 44 wards.

However, Toronto’s significant growth has resulted in wards with populations above or below the average of 60,958, with some wards 30 to 50 per cent above the average.

As a result, one person’s vote does not necessarily have the same value or weight as that of someone in another ward.

Toronto Ward Boundary Review will:

make sure the number of electors in each ward is similar to all the other wards in the city;
ensure that each person in Toronto has equitable representation at City Council; and
also look at communities of interest and neighbourhoods within the city.
- Ward boundaries should not split up well-established communities.
- Other factors such as a ward’s history and physical or natural features as well as population trends will also be considered as part of the Review of Toronto`s ward boundaries.

You are invited to the following Toronto Ward Boundary Review’s public meetings:

January 7: S. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m.
January 8: Parkdale Library, 1303 Queen St. W., from 6 to 9 p.m.
January 10: Trinity St. Paul’s Church, 427 Bloor St. W., from 9 a.m. to noon.

The study is being conducted by an independent team of consultants who are responsible for making sure the process is not influenced by political interests.

Here is the timeline of the events.

Background Research	June 2014 to November 2014
Civic Engagement and Public Consultation on Current Ward Boundaries (Round One)	July 2014 to February 2015
Development of Ward Boundary Options	March 2015 to April 2015
Civic Engagement and Public Consultation on Ward Boundary Options (Round Two)	May 2015 to November 2015
Final Report with recommendations to Council	February 2016 to May 2016

Consultation and Engagement

Round One consultation is focused on collecting input on Toronto’s current ward boundaries – gathering suggestions and identifying issues.
Round Two consultation is focused on collecting feedback on a series of ward boundary options.
The engagement component will keep the public informed about the Toronto Ward Boundary Review process and offers opportunities to participate.

Please click here to view the Toronto Ward Boundary Review Consultation and Engagement Plan.

There are other ways that you can participate and provide input to the Ward Boundary Review, including:

Fill out an Online Survey: Online surveys will be available in Round One and Round Two of the consultation process.
- In Round One the Input Survey will gather general comments about the City’s current ward boundaries.
- In Round Two, the Feedback Survey will gather comments on various ward boundary options. Both surveys can be accessed at http://www.drawthelines.ca/survey/ .
- You can print the Consultation Guide (available online) & Survey and submit them by:
  - Mail
    Attention:
    Toronto Ward Boundary Review
    555 Richmond St. W, PO Box 612, Suite 402,
    M5V 3B1
  - Fax
    (416) 365-0650
  - Email
    info@drawthelines.ca

Stay Connected: Follow the Toronto Ward Boundary Review on Twitter @drawthelinesTO or sign-up for the mailing list to receive up-to-date information about project milestones and opportunities to participate.

Stay Informed: Check the website www.drawthelines.ca for up to date information about the Toronto Ward Boundary Review.

Please click here for more info about the Toronto Ward Boundary Review.

NEWS RELEASE

2-Jan-2015

Public meetings next week on Toronto Ward Boundary Review

Residents of Toronto and East York are invited to provide their input as part of a review of the size and shape of Toronto’s electoral wards. The Toronto Ward Boundary Review is intended to ensure that each person in Toronto has equitable representation at City Council.

Toronto’s significant growth has resulted in wards with populations above or below the average of 60,958, with some wards 30 to 50 per cent above the average. The goal of the review is to ensure that the number of electors in every ward is similar to the number in other wards throughout the city.

The Toronto Ward Boundary Review’s next series of public meetings will take place in the Toronto and East York Community Council area starting next week. The meetings will be held on Wednesday, January 7, Thursday, January 8, and Saturday, January 10.

• Wednesday’s meeting will be held at S. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Thursday’s meeting will be held at Parkdale Library, 1303 Queen St. W., from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Saturday’s meeting will be held at Trinity St. Paul’s Church, 427 Bloor St. W., from 9 a.m. to noon.

These three meetings are part of a two-stage public consultation process. Additional information, including meeting times, locations and the full calendar of the review’s public consultation meetings, is available at drawthelines.ca.

The review will take into consideration:
• the number of people living in each ward
• geographic communities of interest and neighbourhoods
• major physical and natural boundaries, and
• population trends.

The City of Toronto has oversight of the Toronto Ward Boundary Review. The study is being conducted by an independent team of consultants that is responsible for making sure the process is not influenced by political interests.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

Shannon Clark
Toronto Ward Boundary Review
416-365-0816, ext. 251
info@drawthelines.ca

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