The Municipality of Port Hope is reviewing its Council composition and ward boundaries. The review will assess how well the current Council structure and ward boundaries work for our community.

With our population expected to grow, the review will help ensure voters are represented equally in the decision-making process, no matter where they live in the Municipality.

Background

The Municipality of Port Hope was established in 2001 through the amalgamation of the former Town of Port Hope and the Township of Hope. At that time, it was determined that Council would be composed of a Mayor and six Councillors, elected to represent two wards: Ward 1 (urban) and Ward 2 (rural). At that time, it was also established that Ward 1 would be represented by four Councillors and Ward 2 by two Councillors.

The goal of the review is to assess this current Council composition and establish a ward structure that will accommodate growth and population shifts for at least the next three municipal elections.

The Council composition and ward boundary review will entail extensive public consultations and engagement opportunities for all residents. We’ll be asking you to tell us about your community and provide feedback on the current ward boundaries. Factors such as population growth, geography, community history, community interests and minority representation are all considered in the division of wards.

We are committed to involving residents, businesses, and stakeholders in conversations about this Ward Boundary and Council Composition Review.

This survey will help our consultants understand how residents view the current electoral arrangement. Your experiences with the present system and insights will enable the consulting team to provide thoughtful recommendations to your Council.

The survey will be available until September 25 at 11:59 p.m. Please encourage your friends, family, and neighbours to complete the survey.