Number of wards hot topic at review consultation

By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express

Previously, Oshawa was divided into seven – however, that number no longer works for the city and ward reviewers are tasked with figuring out a system that will.

At the first public consultation in the ward review process, a small number of residents came out to the South Oshawa Community Centre to meet with representatives from Watson and Associates and expert Robert Williams, who will be conducting the review process.

Council approved the switch back to the ward system last year in response to a ballot question during the 2014 municipal election, which saw support for steering away from the current at-large system.

Recently, the process was mired with uncertainty as the Region of Durham’s composition bylaw made its round through the municipalities. With that locked down now, and Oshawa set to lose two seats, things can move ahead. However, there is still a question of how that change will affect the Oshawa council chambers.

Williams presented several possible examples of the change, which could possibly mean Oshawa moves those previously regional councillors to city councillor positions, making up a council of five local and five regional councillors and applying that to a five-ward system. Or perhaps eliminating those positions all together and having some form of hybrid ward system for regional and city councillors. Oshawa also has the option of cutting the council to five members (the minimum allowed under the Municipal Act) and making them all regional councillors, similar to Burlington’s seven-councillor system. The position of mayor does not apply to wards as that role always serves in an at-large capacity.

Williams says it is the purpose of the consultations to figure out which direction Oshawa wants to go and “to help us understand the way you see your city,” he says.

Resident David Conway was curious as to why this decision would not have been made ahead of time so the ward reviewers could have some clarity moving forward.

“It would make sense to me for you guys to know how many councillors we’re dealing with,” he said.

However, the reviewers noted that it would be premature in the process for councillor to decide and that more information would help them to make a more educated decision.

Councillors Amy Mcquaid-England and Nester Pidwerbecki were in attendance at the meeting.

Others in attendance urged reviewers to keep an open mind, and consider the possibility that more than five wards may be needed, a number they seemed to be fixated with, suggesting that perhaps 10 wards would work.

For Bill Longworth, a former mayoral candidate and long-time advocate of the ward system, a five-ward system makes the most sense, with one regional councillor and one local in each one. It would help people to know where to turn when they have an issue, he says.

“Everybody would know these are the two people responsible for my area,” he says.

In their final form, regardless of the number, the wards must have a more or less equal distribution of residents in them and provide each councillor with an approximately equal number of residents they are responsible for.

For the reviewers, this will be made difficult by the growing north end, which was previously one large ward. Making the projections and data analysis will be the role of Watson, who also aided the city with the review of it development charges bylaw. The projections will be looking out to 2026 in order to ensure the ward system is relevant for the next three municipal elections.

The first round of public consultations includes two more opportunities for the public to provide input, the first will be tonight (Dec. 14) from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Legends Centre, followed by the same time on Dec. 15 at the Civic Recreation Complex.