OMB approves Toronto's new ward boundaries and 3 new city councillors

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Civic government is getting bigger in Hogtown.

On Friday, the Ontario Municipal Board approved a City of Toronto council decision to add three more councillors and make changes to the ward boundaries.

That move had been challenged by some citizen groups and two members of city council — Justin Di Ciano and Giorgio Mammoliti.

But on Friday, the OMB ruled the city can redraw the wards so each has a population of roughly 61,000 residents.

That will increase the number of wards from 44 to 47.

In its ruling, the OMB said it’s not the “perfect” decision, but it was better than all the rest.

The 47-ward model will achieve the goal of “effective representation.”

Mammoliti said it was a sad day for democracy.

“This was done with no regard for the fact that a number of communities had no consultation, no voice, on this matter,” Mammoliti said.

“It’s going to create chaos,” he said. “How will council run with more members? It will make life more miserable and the decision was made to accommodate the bureaucrats and not the taxpayers who don’t want 47 members in council.”

City council approved the decision to make ward changes over a year ago.

The OMB decision was made in time for the city to redraw ward boundaries in time for the next civic election.

The move will create three new wards in the city centre, one in North York and the majority of others would be redrawn. It will also eliminate Ward 18 Davenport into other boundaries.

kconnor@postmedia.com