NEWS

Five ways proposed to redraw our ward boundaries

Two options for ward boundary changes
TWO OPTIONS: While the city’s report offered up five options, these are the two most extreme changes from the current ward boundaries.

A city report suggests five ways Toronto’s ward boundaries could be redrawn — each with a different take on how to divide the city.

The review looked at five factors when considering new boundaries including population growth, balanced ward sizes, and effective new boundaries.

Toronto currently has 44 wards with an average of 61,000 people in each, however some wards have nearly double the population of others.

The five options put forward suggest new boundaries based on redrawing boundaries as little as possible while still creating more equity (47 wards), maintaining the current number of wards but redrawing boundaries to allow for more equity (44 wards), having 50,000 people in each (58 wards), having 75,000 people in each (38 wards), and divisions by physical or natural boundaries (41 wards).

Greater equity is something Ward 22 councillor Josh Matlow says he’ll consider foremost when the city looks to make a final decision sometime next year.

“Every vote should be equal,” he said. “And every resident should be provided the same level of representation.”

In all five options, Matlow’s ward is drawn differently, meaning if any of the options are chosen by the city he will not represent the same area he has since 2010.

The same is true for all midtown wards except Ward 16, which remains the same in the first option only.

Current midtown ward boundaries
LOOK FAMILIAR: These are the current ward boundaries in the midtown area.

Midtown has all or part of six wards now, but could see anywhere from five to nine under the new options.

“I’m not going to get caught up on the exact number of wards,” Matlow said. “How they’re redistributed needs to be fair and equitable.”

Another round of consultations will be done before the city receives a final report, which is expected next May.

The city has planned 12 consultations to receive feedback on the five options, with two in midtown areas:

  • Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2737 Bayview Avenue, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
  • Holy Rosary Church, 354 St. Clair Ave. West, Oct. 3, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.