Backgrounder: Ward Realignment

By: Laura Steiner, The Milton Reporter Staff

The 2018-2022 term of council, was the first held in this new realignment.  Four wards each with a municipal councillor, and Regional Councillor, plus a mayor.

In 2016, Council voted to go from an eight ward system, down to a four ward system with a Derry Rd. boundary.  Wards 1, and 2 are now north of Derry, 3, and 4 south of Derry. The change was made in 2016 following a boundary review in order accommodate 2 more Regional Councillors.

Six options were placed before Milton Council at the June, 2016 meeting including options to grow to 12 councillors including four regional councillors.  Or to cut to the four wards, with each getting one local councillor sitting on the local council, and one Local & Regional Councillor.

In a recorded vote of 6-5 Council voted to cut down to four wards.  Each ward would get a local councillor representing them on local council, and one on regional council.   Voting in favour of it were Mike Boughton, Robert Duvall, Rick Malboeuf, Mike Cluett, Zeeshan Hamid, and Gord Krantz.  Voting against it were Councillors Cindy Lunau, John Pollard, Arnold Huffman, Rick Di Lorenzo, and Colin Best.

Experts were recommending council the grow to 12 councillors plus a mayor.  They said this would cause minimal disruption to the 8 ward structure, but they would include a slight increase to council costs.

Why the cuts to Milton Council?

The main argument was that it would save approximately $80,000/ year.  The boundaries have been simplified, ending at Derry Road.  Others say that it was essentially the best of options open to them, and they ran out of time to try and find a better way. The experts who wrote the report agreed on the money saving argument on both the council salary, and campaign costs.  They also argued that it weakens representation because a larger ward size, could create a need for increased council support.

The nomination period ends August 19, at 2pm.  Election day is October 24, 2022.