This proposal was posted by coalminecanary at SkyscraperPage Forum back in 2008. It maintains 15 wards, creating one (south Mountain) and removing one (12)
-Hamilton's population sits at just over 520,000.
-Residents-per-ward amongst Ontario cities with populations above 250,000 range from roughly 25,000 to 60,000.
-Currently, Hamilton sits at just under 35,000, well within this range.
-With a lower population, Hamilton has less councillors (15) than Ottawa (23) and more than Mississauga (11).
So.
Independent of representational disparities, does Hamilton 'need' more wards, more councillors? Probably not. (If there's a problem with councillor effectiveness, productivity and the such, maybe we should be looking at improving their support mechanisms.)
But there's no question that one approach to boundary reform would be to add wards. Primarily in the current Wards 6, 7 and 8 geographical area. This would bring down the average-per-ward number, as well as providing plenty of room for future growth. (Understanding that we're nowhere near the ratios that Toronto or Mississauga have, and probably never will be.)
I suppose that, aside from the cost of adding wards, there's the simple issue of 'How much change do we want to try to effect?'
My sense is that because Council deferred the issue of reform twice in the past few years, we're not likely to see anything drastic. I don't believe the political will is there at City Hall...and I don't sense that it's present in those-who-are-engaged in this endeavour.
M Adrian Brassington
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I'm always interested in feedback, differing opinions, even contrarian blasts...as long as they're delivered with decorum...with panache and flair always helping.