Corp Comm Connects

By the numbers: the regions under the Ford government’s review

Thestar.com
Jan 15, 2019
Alexandra Jones

The Ford government announced Tuesday it will be implementing a review of Ontario’s eight regional municipalities and Simcoe County to determine whether the municipal governments in these areas are efficient and accountable to their residents and businesses.

The review will cover Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District and Oxford County and their lower-tier municipalities. The province said Simcoe County and its lower-tier municipalities will also be included in the review because of its rapid growth and associated challenges.

According to the province, an advisory body comprised of two special advisers will consult with municipal councillors and leaders, as well as stakeholder organizations and the public throughout the spring of 2019.

In total, 82 upper- and lower-tier municipalities are included in the review.

We’re breaking down the municipalities covered under the review (numbers based on 2016 census) -- this file will be updated as we go.

Regions under review

Star graphic
Durham Region

When region was created: Jan. 1, 1974

Regional chair: John Henry

Total population: 645,862

Number of regional council members: 29. Members include the regional chair, and mayors and regional councillors from the local area municipalities.

 

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Ajax

Population: 119,677

Mayor: Shaun Collier

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 3

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 19,946

Geographic size: 67 square kilometres

 

Brock

Population: 11,642

Mayor: Debbie Bath-Hadden

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,940

Geographic size: 423.34 square kilometres

 

Clarington

Population: 92,013

Mayor: Adrian Foster

Regional councillors: 2

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 15,336

Geographic size: 611 square kilometres

 

Oshawa

Population: 159,458

Mayor: Dan Carter

Regional councillors: 5

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 15,945

Geographic size: 145.64 square kilometres

 

Pickering

Population: 91,771

Mayor: Dave Ryan

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 3

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 15,295

Geographic size: 231.55 square kilometres

 

Scugog

Population: 21,617

Mayor: Bobbie Drew

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,603

Geographic size: 414.71 square kilometres

 

Uxbridge

Population: 11,832

Mayor: Dave Barton

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,972

Geographic size: 15.45 square kilometres

 

Whitby

Population: 128,377

Mayor: Don Mitchell

Regional councillors: 4

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 16,047

Geographic size: 146.66 square kilometres

 

Halton Region

When region was created: Jan. 1, 1974

Regional chair: Gary Carr

Total population: 548, 435

Number of regional council members: 21

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Burlington

Population: 183,314

Mayor: Marianne Meed Ward

Councillors: 6 (serve as both regional and ward)

Average number of constituents per councillor: 30,552

Geographic size: 185.66 square kilometres

 

Halton Hills

Population: 61,161

Mayor: Rick Bonnette

Regional councillors: 2

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 6,116

Geographic size: 276.27 square kilometres

 

Milton

Population: 101,715

Mayor: Gordon Krantz

Regional councillors: 4

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 12,714

Geographic size: 40.36 square kilometres

 

Oakville

Population: 193,832

Mayor: Rob Burton

Regional councillors: 7

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 13,845

Geographic size: 138.89 square kilometres

 

Muskoka District

When region was created: 1971

Regional Chair: John W. Klinck

Total population: 60,599

Number of regional councillors: 23

 

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Bracebridge

Population: 16,010

Mayor: Graydon Smith

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,001

Geographic size: 628.22 square kilometres

 

Gravenhurst

Population: 12,311

Mayor: Paul Kelly

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1539

Geographic size: 518.06 square kilometres

 

Georgian Bay

Population: 2,499

Mayor: Peter Koetsier

Regional councillors: 2

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 417

Geographic size: 547.61 square kilometres

 

Huntsville

Population: 19,816

Mayor: Scott Aitchison

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,477

Geographic size: 710.01 square kilometres

 

Lake of Bays

Population: 3,167

Mayor: Terry Glover

Regional councillors: 2

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 528

Geographic size: 677.91 square kilometres

 

Muskoka Lakes

Population: 6,588

Mayor: Don Furniss

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 732

Geographic size: 794.26 square kilometres

 

Niagara Region

When region was created: Jan 1, 1970

Regional Chair: Jim Bradley

Total population: 447,888

Number of regional councillors: 31

 

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Fort Erie

Population: 30,710

Mayor: Wayne Redekop

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,387

Geographic size: 166.27 square kilometres

 

Grimsby

Population: 27,314

Mayor: Jeff Jordan

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,035

Geographic size: 68.93 square kilometres

 

Lincoln

Population: 23,787

Mayor: Sandra Easton

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,643

Geographic size: 162.81 square kilometres

 

Niagara Falls

Population: 88,071

Mayor: Jim Diodati

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 8,006

Geographic size: 209.73 square kilometres

 

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Population: 17,511

Mayor: Betty Disero

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,946

Geographic size: 132.81 square kilometres

 

Pelham

Population: 17,110

Mayor: Marvin Junkin

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,444

Geographic size: 126.43 square kilometres

 

Port Colborne

Population: 18,306

Mayor: William C. Steele

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,034

Geographic size: 121.96 square kilometres

 

St. Catharines

Population: 133,115

Mayor: Walter Sendzik

Regional councillors: 6

Ward councillors: 12

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 7,395

Geographic size: 96.13 square kilometres

 

Thorold

Population: 18,801

Mayor: Terry Ugulini

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,089

Geographic size: 82.99 square kilometres

 

Wainfleet

Population: 6,372

Mayor: Kevin Gibson

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,593

Geographic size: 217.31 square kilometres

 

Welland

Population: 52,293

Mayor: Frank Campion

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 12

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,486

Geographic size: 81.04 square kilometres

 

West Lincoln

Population: 14,500

Mayor: Dave Bylsma

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 3

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,625

Geographic size: 387.81 square kilometres

 

York Region

When region was created: 1971

Regional Chair: Wayne Emmerson

Total population: 1.1 million

Number of regional councillors: 21

 

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Aurora

Population: 55,445

Mayor: Tom Mrakas

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 9,241

Geographic size: 49.85 square kilometres

 

East Gwillimbury

Population: 24,000

Mayor: Virginia Hackson

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,000

Geographic size: 245 square kilometres

 

Georgina

Population: 45,418

Mayor: Margaret Quirk

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 7,570

Geographic size: 288 square kilometres

 

King

Population: 24,512

Mayor: Steve Pellegrini

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,085

Geographic size: 333 square kilometres

 

Markham

Population: 328,966

Mayor: Frank Scarpitti

Regional councillors: 4

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 27,416

Geographic size: 212.35 square kilometres

 

Newmarket

Population: 84,224

Mayor: John Taylor

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 10,528

Geographic size: 38.45 square kilometres

 

Richmond Hill

Population: 185,540

Mayor: Dave Barrow

Regional councillors: 2

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 23,193

Geographic size: 100.95 square kilometres

 

Vaughan

Population: 306,230

Mayor: Maurizio Bevilacqua

Regional councillors: 3

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 38,279

Geographic size: 273.52 square kilometres

 

Whitchurch-Stouffville

Population: 45,837

Mayor: Iain Lovatt

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 7,640

Geographic size: 206.41 square kilometres

 

Oxford County

When region was created: 2001

Warden: Larry Martin

Total Population: 110,862

Number of regional councillors: 8

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Blandford-Blenheim

Population: 7,399

Mayor: Mark Peterson

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,850

Geographic size: 382.3 square kilometres

 

East Zorra-Tavistock

Population: 7,129

Mayor: Don McKay

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,426

Geographic size: 242.30 square kilometres

 

Ingersoll

Population: 12,757

Mayor: Ted Comiskey

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,126

Geographic size: 12.75 square kilometres

 

Norwich

Population: 11,001

Mayor: Larry Martin

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,750

Geographic size: 431.27 square kilometres

 

South-West Oxford

Population: 7,664

Mayor: David Mayberry

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,277

Geographic size: 370.73 square kilometres

 

Tillsonburg

Population: 15,872

Mayor: Stephen Molnar

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 6

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,645

Geographic size: 22.33 square kilometres

 

Woodstock

Population: 40,902

Mayor: Trevor Birtch

Regional councillors: 2

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 6,817

Geographic size: 48.97 square kilometres

 

Zorra

Population: 8,138

Mayor: Marcus Ryan

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,035

Geographic size: 528.94 square kilometres

 

Peel Region

When region was created: Jan 1, 1974

Regional Chair: Nando Iannicca

Total Population: 1.382 million

Number of regional councillors: 29

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Brampton

Population: 593,638

Mayor: Patrick Brown

Regional councillors: 6

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 59,364

Geographic size: 266.36 square kilometres

 

Caledon

Population: 66,502

Mayor: Allan Thompson

Regional councillors: 4

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 8,313

Geographic size: 688.16 square kilometres

 

Mississauga

Population: 721,599

Mayor: Bonnie Crombie

Regional and ward councillors (all act in both roles): 11

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 65,600

Geographic size: 292.43 square kilometres

 

Waterloo Region

When region was created: 1973

Regional Chair: Karen Redman

Total Population: 535,154

Number of regional councillors: 15

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Cambridge

Population: 129,920

Mayor: Kathryn McGarry

Regional councillors: 2

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 12,992

Geographic size: 113.01 square kilometres

 

Kitchener

Population: 233,222

Mayor: Berry Vrbanovic

Regional councillors: 4

Ward councillors: 10

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 16,659

Geographic size: 136.77 square kilometres

 

North Dumfries

Population: 10,215

Mayor: Susan Foxton

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,554

Geographic size: 187.43 square kilometres

 

Wilmot

Population: 20,545

Mayor: Les Armstrong

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,109

Geographic size: 263.78 square kilometres

 

Waterloo

Population: 104,986

Mayor: Dave Jaworsky

Regional councillors: 2

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 11,665

Geographic size: 64.02 square kilometres

 

Wellesley

Population: 11,260

Mayor: Joe Nowak

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 4

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,815

Geographic size: 277.76 square kilometres

 

Woolwich

Population: 25,006

Mayor: Sandy Shantz

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 5,001

Geographic size: 326.15 square kilometres

 

Simcoe County

When region created: 1843 (as Simcoe District)

Warden: George Cornell

Total population: 305,516

Number of regional councilors: 31

 

Lower-tier municipalities:

 

Adjala-Tosorontio

Population: 10,975

Mayor: Floyd Pinto

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,829

Geographic size: 372.3 square kilometres

 

Bradford West Gwillimbury

Population: 35,325

Mayor: Rob Keffer

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,416

Geographic size: 201 square kilometres

 

Clearview

Population: 14,151

Mayor: Doug Measures

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,022

Geographic size: 557.32 square kilometres

 

Collingwood

Population: 21,793

Mayor: Brian Saunderson

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,724

Geographic size: 33.46 square kilometres

 

Essa

Population: 21,083

Mayor: Sandie Macdonald

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 3

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 5,271

Geographic size: 280.07 square kilometres

 

Innisfil

Population: 36,566

Mayor: Lynn Dollin

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 4,571

Geographic size: 284.21 square kilometres

 

Midland

Population: 16,864

Mayor: Stewart Strathearn

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,108

Geographic size: 26.62 square kilometres

 

New Tecumseth

Population: 34,242

Mayor: Rick Milne

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 8

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,805

Geographic size: 274.21 square kilometres

 

Oro-Medonte

Population: 21,036

Mayor: Harry Hughes

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,506

Geographic size: 587.08 square kilometres

 

Penetanguishene

Population: 8,962

Mayor: Douglas Leroux

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 7

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,120

Geographic size: 25.36 square kilometres

 

Ramara

Population: 9,488

Mayor: Basil Clark

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 1,581

Geographic size: 418.2 square kilometres

 

Severn

Population: 13,477

Mayor: Mike Burkett

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,246

Geographic size: 549.75 square kilometres

 

Springwater

Population: 19,059

Mayor: Don Allen

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,177

Geographic size: 536.2 square kilometres

 

Tay

Population: 10,033

Mayor Ted Walker

Regional councillors: 0

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,007

Geographic size: 139.07 square kilometres

 

Tiny

Population: 11,787

Mayor: George Cornell

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 3

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 2,947

Geographic size: 336.93 square kilometres

 

Wasaga Beach

Population: 20,675

Mayor: Nina Bifolchi

Regional councillors: 1

Ward councillors: 5

Average number of constituents per councillor (ward and regional): 3,446

Geographic size: 24.68 square kilometres