Delays mean Toronto wards unlikely to be redrawn before 2018 election
Ward boundary review goes to final vote at council next month

thestar.com
By Jennifer Pagliaro
Oct. 26, 2016

For the first time, Mayor John Tory’s executive has overruled him on a key issue, voting in favour of redrawing ward boundaries to add three new councillors.

“We don’t need any more politicians at city hall,” Tory said ahead of the vote Wednesday.

He rejected a suggestion his position was purely political.

“I think my view on this is a view with the utmost of substance to it, which is that we should not focus, whether we’re talking four councillors, 44 or 444 councillors, on how many people are here. We should focus on how we can make this government work better, how we can serve the people better and how we can make sure they can have adequate representation.”

Tory’s preference for 44 wards goes against what the consultant’s hired by the city recommended. Though they were asked to go back and revise other options, the group still recommended 47 wards, saying it not only achieved voter parity but “manages to keep communities of interest together and has coherent ward boundaries.”

Tory’s executive agreed with the consultants, breaking with Tory in a close 7-6 vote. Councillors Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailao, Michelle Holland, Frank Di Giorgio, Mary-Margaret McMahon, James Pasternak and David Shiner were in favour of the 47-ward option. Tory along with Councillors Gary Crawford, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Cesar Palacio, Jaye Robinson and Michael Thompson were against.

The final decision is up to council, which meets starting Nov. 8.

After Tory delayed the decision on new wards in May, city staff now say regardless of what council decides next month, the new boundaries are unlikely to be in place in time for the 2018 election.

That leaves the city vulnerable to the Ontario Municipal Board, the provincial body that deals with land, planning and other issues, imposing new boundaries on the city without consultation if an appeal is filed alleging unequal representation.

The current inequity in ward populations is great, the consultants noted in their report to council. In 2014, the largest ward contained 94,600 residents while the smallest ward was less than half that at 45,440.

The delay in redrawing the lines could have benefits for Tory - who has said he will seek re-election. The 47-ward option would create new downtown wards where growth is concentrated, which could see new left-leaning voices elected who are likely to challenge Tory and his agenda.

Residents groups who came to speak to the executive committee were not unanimous in their support of an option, but none defended a 44-ward system.

David Harrison, chair of the Annex Residents’ Association said the 47-ward option would result in “far greater equity for public representation” in downtown wards that are more “heavily affected by increasing development and population.”

He noted his own councillor, Joe Cressy, faces unprecedented demands as a result of that development in Ward 20 (Trinity-Spadina).

Executive members, several who transparently noted their opinions were coloured by self-preservation, were split on what they thought was the best option. A 26-ward option that follows federal riding boundaries, the 44-ward option and 47-ward option were all tabled.

Veteran councillor David Shiner, who represents Ward 24 (Willowdale) and chairs the planning and growth committee said with the 44-ward option, Scarborough and Etobicoke wards remain mostly intact.

“So most of my colleagues are able to maintain their wards and may not understand what the pressure is on our other colleagues that are really finding the impacts of intensification, those new populations very demanding on them,” he said.

Pasternak, who noted his Ward 10 (York Centre) essentially disappears with the 44-ward option, argued it would make government “less responsive, not better” and would confusingly split established neighbourhoods across boundaries.

At least one councillor, Robinson, noted incumbent councillors shouldn’t be the ones making this decision.

“I think it’s outrageous that we’re really voting on our own jobs,” she said. “There should be another body . . . making these types of the decisions because it clearly speaks to in my mind, incumbent advantage.”

It appears unlikely the 44-ward option will prevail at council, where Tory is still expected to vote against 47 wards.

Tory said he will take responsibility for sending the report back for further review but said he is unapologetic about the delay.

“I think what you want to do is get the right decision made as opposed to get a decision made on a particular time table,” Tory said.

He correctly pointed out that staff at that time did not publicly warn that the timeline would be difficult to achieve.