Lambton Shores council has determined to not act on a report that proposed modifications to the municipality’s seven ward boundaries, which have remained the identical since 2001.
A report was obtained and filed for data throughout a mid-January assembly after council directed employees in July 2024 to compile a ward boundary overview utilizing a 2020 preliminary report from Andrew Sancton Consulting Ltd.
Employees additionally labored with Elections Ontario to get up to date elector counts.
The variety of eligible voters in every ward varies. Ward 3 (which spans from Ipperwash Seashore to Port Franks), has the best variety of voters with 2,226, whereas Ward 6 (which incorporates Thedford) has the least quantity at 860.
Apart from the established order, two choices had been introduced to council to realize voter parity, and employees beneficial “Possibility 2”.
Present ward boundary for Lambton Shores and proposed choice beneficial by employees at January 14, 2025 assembly. (Picture included in council report)
Initially, there was some hesitation to even obtain the report, which did not sit effectively with Councillor Glen Baillie.
“The choices that we make at the moment might be for the following 20 years,” Baillie stated. “So with that in thoughts, refusing to ponder what will occur due to a consolation degree that, its been the identical for 20 years why ought to we modify it? It would not sit proper with me.”
Councillors Lorie Scott and Dave Marsh had been in favour of maintaining the boundaries as is.
“I personally do not see the necessity to change. I believe it is working effectively,” stated Scott. “The expansion will occur, however possibly it will not occur for a short while.”
“For 23 years that is one thing that has labored,” stated Marsh.
Councillor Scott additionally famous that not all eligible voters go to the polls at election time.
Director of Company Companies Stephanie Troyer-Boyd stated the ward boundaries might be reviewed once more at a later date.
“It is a good strategy to have ward boundaries reviewed each two to 3 election cycles,” she stated. “We all know that we’re past that, provided that they have not modified since 2001 however even on this explicit report, I did recommend that it could be enough for 2 or three elections.”
Troyer-Boyd confirmed ward boundaries will be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, and council must defend its numbers.
“I’ll inform you that these numbers will not be defendable,” stated Troyer-Boyd.
If an attraction had been obtained, Councillor Baillie questioned if an outdoor marketing consultant would must be employed. The reply was sure.
“So we’re dealing with an invoice right here. This isn’t a no-cost deferral,” Baillie stated. “If we’re conscious that we’re not essentially in a defensible place, you would possibly win… it’ll value you some cash.”
Whereas there was no monetary influence with this newest overview, the 2020 report value $40,000. Employees estimate {that a} full ward boundary overview would value roughly $50,000 to $60,000.
