Political landscape up for review as Burlington considers adding councillors

Burlington will review its political landscape to determine if more councillors are needed and whether ward boundaries should be changed.

City council yesterday (July 11) approved the review process following a report that suggests the population shifts and growth may warrant a change.

Presently, Burlington has seven members of council and six wards. Voters elect a councillor in each ward and the mayor is elected from across the city.

Ward boundaries and the number of councillors have remained the same for several years despite the growth and changing demographics of the city. The last review of Burlington’s political map was made in 2005, but no changes were made then.

“This boundary review will also be an opportunity to review council size,” Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said recently, adding any discussion would have to include extensive community consultation.

The report says any changes to the current set-up have to be done before January 1 of an election year. The next municipal elections will take place in October 2026.