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POLICY GOV-COU-050
WARD BOUNDARY - CRITERIA Category
GOV -
Governance
Sub-category
COU - Council
Approval Type
COUNCIL
Department/Division
Office of the Mayor &
Council
Author and Position
Author Unknown
Date Approved
July 4, 1995
Last
Reviewed/Amended
November 18, 2024
Next Review Date
June 1, 2027
Related Policies or Procedures
•
Policy Purpose
Provides the criteria and guiding principles to be considered when reviewing ward
boundaries.
Definitions
“City” means The Corporation of the City of Kitchener or the geographic area of Kitchener,
as the context requires.
“Community of Interest” means a neighborhood or recognized area of the City with distinct or
defining attributes, including, but not limited to ethnic, religious, historic, and cultural, wherein
the residents share a common interest.
“Effective Representation” means having approximately the same number of residents per
Member of Council for each Ward to ensure that residents have equivalent access to and
representation by each Ward Councillor.
“Geographic Boundary” means a natural or man-made feature that can serve as a Ward
boundary.
“Ward” means a certain specific geographic area of the City that is established.
“Ward Boundary Guidelines” means the criteria as set out in this policy by which Effective
Representation will be assessed in each Ward and the City as a whole.
“Ward Boundary Review” means a comprehensive process by which Wards are reviewed,
resulting in recommendations to either maintain, or to reduce, increase, or adjust the Wards
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prior to passing a by-law in accordance with Section 222 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O.
2001, c. 25.
Policy Scope
Application
☐ Employees (Indicate below which categories apply: All employees, Permanent full-time, Temporary full-time, Continuous part-
time, Casual, Probationary, Student, Management, Non-union)
• Click or tap here to enter text.
☐ Unions (Indicate below which categories apply: All Unions, CUPE 68 Civic, CUPE 68 Mechanics, CUPE 791, IATSE, IBEW, KPFFA)
• Click or tap here to enter text.
☒ Council
☐ Specified Positions: Click or tap here to enter text.
☐ Other: Local Boards and Advisory Committees
Policy Content
(a) Ward boundaries shall be reviewed after every third regular election. With the current
length of a term of Council being four years, that would equate to every 12 years. A
review shall be commenced two years prior to the next election, so that it can be
finalized in sufficient time to allow for the appeal period and a possible appeal to the
Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
(b) Each ward will be represented by one Councillor.
(c) In reviewing ward boundaries, the following principles shall be considered:
(i) Communities of interest and neighbourhoods should be protected. It is desirable to
avoid fragmenting traditional neighbourhoods or communities of interest.
(ii) Consideration of representation by population: To the extent possible, and bearing in
mind the requirements for effective representation, voters should be equally
represented and wards should have reasonable equal population totals. Given the
geography and varying populations densities and characteristics in the City, a degree
of variation is acceptable.
(iii) Consideration of physical features as natural boundaries. Wards should be compact,
contiguous shape, straightforward and easy to remember.
(iv) Consideration of present and future population trends. The ward structure should
accommodate growth for at least 12 years.
Results of Review
☐ No Edits Required
☐ Housekeeping Edits
☒ Substantial Edits
☐ Repeal/Replace
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Policy History
Administrative and Housekeeping Changes
Date Nature of Change
2001-12-01 Minor updates
2016-06-01 I-050 policy template re-formatted to new numbering system and given
number GOV-COU-050.
2024-07 Reviewed no changes.
Substantial Changes
Date Council/CLT Directive
2007-06-11 As Per Council/CLT Directive
2024-11-18 As Per Council/CLT Directive – Report COR-2024-018