City seeking input for council composition and ward boundary review

Work to review the composition of Burlington City Council and the city’s ward boundaries is set to begin this fall. The review will assess how well the current council size and structure, and ward boundaries work for our community.

All residents and Burlington business owners are invited to share their input through a series of upcoming public engagements. Information about the review and opportunities to be involved are available on this project page.

What is a council composition and ward boundary review?
A council composition and ward boundary review helps plan for the future. The reviews ensure voters are represented equally in the local government decision-making process.

The last ward boundary review for Burlington was done in 2005, when the city’s population was 139,000. Since this time, the city’s population has grown to approximately 186,948 (2021 Census). Over the next 25 years, the city will continue to grow. Approximately 265,000 people are expected to call Burlington home by 2051.

Council composition reviews look at the size and structure of City Council. They determine if the current number of councillors and the coverage they provide are adequate for our community.
Ward boundary reviews are typically undertaken every three to four election cycles (12 – 16 years) to look at the boundaries of a city’s wards. Factors, such as population, future growth, geography, community history, community interests, and minority representation, are also considered in the division of wards.

Public engagement and Council decisions
Public engagement and Council decisions will happen in two phases for the review. In phase one, residents will be asked for their input on council composition. Input gathered from the community will be used to help inform a report that will go to City Council for their consideration in December 2024.

In phase two, public engagement will focus on ward boundaries. This phase is anticipated to start early in 2025. More information will be shared on getinvolvedburlington.ca/boundaryreview later this year.

Council composition public engagement opportunities

Monday, Oct. 7 – 9:30 a.m., presentation at Committee of the Whole, Council Chambers, 426 Brant St.
Monday, Oct. 7 - 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tansley Woods Community Centre, 1996 Itabashi Way
Wednesday, Oct. 9 - 7 to 8:30 p.m., Central Arena, 519 Drury Ln
Thursday, Oct. 10 - 1:30 to 3 p.m., Mountainside Recreation Centre, 2205 Mt. Forest Dr.
Tuesday, Oct. 15 – 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual public meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 23 – 7 to 8:30 p.m., Haber Community Centre, 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr.

Residents and business owners can also share their feedback through the council composition and ward boundary survey, available on getinvolvedburlington.ca/boundaryreview starting Oct.7.