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 workers in July 2024 to compile a ward boundary overview utilizing a 2020 preliminary report from Andrew Sancton Consulting Ltd.
Workers 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.
Other than the established order, two choices have been offered to council to realize voter parity, and workers really helpful “Choice 2”.
Present ward boundary for Lambton Shores and proposed choice really helpful by workers 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 as we speak will probably be for the subsequent 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 alter it? It does not sit proper with me.”
Councillors Lorie Scott and Dave Marsh have been in favour of protecting 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 time.”
“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 Providers Stephanie Troyer-Boyd stated the ward boundaries will probably be reviewed once more at a later date.
“It is a good method to have ward boundaries reviewed each two to a few election cycles,” she stated. “We all know that we’re past that, provided that they have not modified since 2001 however even on this specific report, I did recommend that it will be ample for 2 or three elections.”
Troyer-Boyd confirmed ward boundaries could be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, and council must defend its numbers.
“I’ll inform you that these numbers aren’t defendable,” stated Troyer-Boyd.
If an attraction have 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 is going to value you some cash.”
Whereas there was no monetary impression with this newest overview, the 2020 report value $40,000. Workers estimate {that a} full ward boundary overview would value roughly $50,000 to $60,000.
