Burlington’s six wards may look different as soon as 2026.
During a committee of the whole meeting on March 5, city councillors discussed the possibility of drawing new boundaries.
“We will consult with the community well in advance and make sure that they support what hopefully comes forward, whatever the options are,” Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said. “This is overdue and really, really welcome.”
The mayor added that there is significant population growth expected in Burlington over the next few years, but a significant portion of that will be around the GO Stations, meaning a disproportionate amount of new residents will be reporting to the same few elected officials.
The potential of adding more wards, with more city councillors, was also discussed.
“I’m interested in looking at increasing the size of council, and there’s different ways to do that,” the mayor said. “One way would be doubling the size of council, and that’s probably my least favourite way. Another would be changing ward boundaries and having a councillor who doesn’t sit on region, also not my favourite.”
The brought up the possibility of having councillors at large, though that may be difficult for campaigning, and to mimic school boards and have councillors double or triple up in wards.
For the ward boundaries to change, there must be a bylaw in effect by Jan. 1, 2026.
Ward 1 councillor Kelvin Galbraith added that population growth, specifically in his ward, is expected to be directed to major transit hubs.
“My ward specifically will always be busy, we have some unique features in Burlington’s only municipal golf course, the marina, the gun club, RGB: there’s a lot of time-sucking features in my ward that need to be considered, and they will be ongoing whether it’s me or someone else in this position,” Galbraith said.
Burlington’s wards last changed during the 2006 municipal election.
