Toronto's community councils to keep familiar shape

Changes to ward boundaries create confusion and raise concerns

Toronto.com
June 19, 2018
David Nickle

Toronto Council is set to make only minor boundary changes to the four community councils, which will accommodate the rejigging of ward boundaries after the 2018 municipal election.

But the status quo isn’t sitting well with some communities -- particularly those on the border between the Etobicoke-York Community Council, and the Toronto and East York Community Council.

“A lot of my residents think that they’re in the downtown community council, and when I advise them they’re in Etobicoke, they’re shocked,” said Sara Doucette, who currently represents Ward 13 Parkdale-High Park. If she is re-elected in the fall, the changes mean she will represent the new Ward 17.

That ward lies on the southeast border of Etobicoke proper, with the Humber River as its boundary. She said many of her constituents have long felt that High Park has more in common with old Toronto communities east of Keele Street.

It becomes more complicated, as the new ward would encompass between 8,000 and 10,000 residents who are currently in the Toronto and East York Community Council area.

“They are in the downtown communities and I understand are very active,” she said.

The issue of where to distribute boundaries has become pressing, as city council voted to increase its size from 44 to 47 members to deal with demographic shifts.

The current boundaries were based on the old ward boundaries and a reasonable distribution of councillors for each community council. Those bodies tend to deal with local zoning matters, and also have limited powers to make decisions about local issues such as speed limits, stop signs and permit parking.

“People are concerned about their identity,” said Davenport Coun. Ana Bailao, who is currently in Ward 17, which is soon to become Ward 16.

“We are so proud of saying this is a city of neighbourhoods. I don’t think we truly looked at this exercise and tried to reflect these neighbourhoods in these community councils” Bailao said.

The matter moved forward without amendment at a June 19 meeting of Mayor John Tory’s Executive Committee, despite objections -- and concerns from midtown communities that a fifth community council be established.

Mayor Tory noted that it was difficult to make changes to the number of community councils, as doing so would require a two-thirds vote from council.

If city council were to leave the matter of boundaries undecided, it would create problems following the election in the fall.
David Nickle