Guelph Civic League
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Better Ways
April 12, 2006
Best Practice: More Wards for London - Keeping the Paws of the Powerful Off the Ward System
Wards have won in London. In February, a citizens group in London, Ontario received final confirmation from the Ontario Municipal Board that the London City Council could not appeal a 2005 ruling by the OMB that expanded the city’s ward system. The citizen group, Imagine London, had applied to the OMB because the city council had refused to consider increasing the number of wards from seven to 14. The OMB ruled in favour of people not politicians.
Then the politicians took off the gloves. In January of this year, council hired a law firm from outside London (lead lawyer’s hourly rate: $545 per hour). But it didn’t work. The Ontario Division Court refused to give the City of London leave to appeal the Ontario Municipal Board decision.
Why are more wards better?
And what does this have to do with Guelph?
Guelph’s ward system will likely be under threat in the November election. A ballot referendum has been approved by Guelph’s city council. You will be asked whether you are happy with our present ward system or would like to revert to an “at-large” system like the one Guelph used to have, where councillors represent the entire city. Here’s the rub: even if Guelph votes to keep the ward system, we could lose it. It happened in Niagara Falls. Find out how.
What You Can Do:
Read the 29 good reasons to keep our ward system.
Show city council how you feel (it has to happen this month!): To appeal any council motion like the one on wards, you must, by law make a written or oral presentation to council.
Here’s how you can make your opinion known. But you have to do it soon!
Read more about what happened in London at these two links:
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