PETITION TO THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREATER SUDBURY
Subject: Restoration of the Original Ward Structure Promised Under the 2001 Amalgamation
To: His Worship the Mayor and Members of the Council of the City of Greater Sudbury

We, the undersigned residents and voters of the City of Greater Sudbury, hereby petition the Municipal Council to reverse the 2006 changes to the municipal ward structure and reinstate the original model approved at the time of amalgamation: 6 wards, each represented by 2 councillors, for a total of 12 councillors.

 
Background & Justification:
In 2001, the Province of Ontario amalgamated the former municipalities that now make up the City of Greater Sudbury. At that time, citizens were presented with, and voted for, a ward structure consisting of 6 wards with 2 councillors each, designed to provide balanced representation across urban and rural areas.

In 2006, this model was changed — without adequate public consultation — to the current structure of 12 wards with 1 councillor each. This change has resulted in:

A disproportionate concentration of wards within or near the urban downtown, marginalizing rural and outlying communities.
Underrepresentation of rural and outlying areas, which now suffer from reduced access to services and funding.
An apparent case of gerrymandering, wherein electoral boundaries may have been manipulated to benefit certain interests at the expense of others.
 
Legal & Democratic Concerns:
According to the 2014 legal analysis, “Toronto Ward Boundary Review Case Law and the Principle of Effective Representation”, effective representation includes more than just population parity. It must also consider:

Communities of interest
Geographic and natural boundaries
Historical context
Minority and rural representation
These principles were affirmed by the Ontario Municipal Board (now LPAT) and referenced in other municipal ward reviews, including Ottawa’s 2001–2003 review, which emphasized that:

"Rural concerns are not always understood in the context of urban policy… Members of council elected by urban voters may not always have the experience or the willingness to represent rural points of view. One-dimensional representation will eventually be harmful to the local economy."
In Sudbury’s case, this is already happening. Major infrastructure decisions — such as the recent approval of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for a downtown entertainment complex — have proceeded without adequate consultation or regard for residents in outlying areas.

 
Amalgamation Savings Never Materialized:
Amalgamation was originally expected to save the city $13 million annually, declining to $8–9 million/year over time. However, a 2016 report by the Northern Policy Institute found that:

"Any changes in total municipal expenditures that resulted from amalgamation appear to have been negligible."
Instead, service costs have increased across most departments, and outlying areas are now often forced to fundraise to maintain basic infrastructure and amenities.

 
Our Request:
We, the undersigned, request that the City of Greater Sudbury Council:

Reinstate the original ward structure of 6 wards with 2 councillors per ward, as was promised under amalgamation.

Conduct meaningful public consultations with residents in all areas of the city before any further changes to ward boundaries are made.
Ensure effective and equitable representation for all residents, including those in rural and outlying communities, in accordance with case law, Ontario municipal governance principles, and democratic best practices.