How can my municipality make sure that our residents continue to be adequately represented after we merge with a bigger municipality?
The Municipal Act gives municipalities the option of electing councillors “at large” or by ward. There are several benefits of the “at large” system. Probably most important are that council brings a broader municipality perspective to the council table and ratepayers can hold the entire council accountable for the decisions they make. This does not necessarily occur where ward elections take place, where councillors and ratepayers alike tend to focus more on individual ward-related issues. In some circumstances, however, municipalities may feel that an “at large” system would not give electors adequate representation – in these cases the ward system may be more appropriate. The Municipal Act provides considerable flexibility around establishing wards. While population is the major factor when setting up ward boundaries, other factors such as “community of interest” or “topographical features” or “settlement patterns” can also be considered. Transitional arrangements can also be used t
