Purpose: We, the electorate of the city of Niagara Falls, have lost faith in the current voting system our municipality uses in elections, which is the 'At-Large System'. We therefore ask our eight elected Councillors and Mayor, to reinstate the Ward System as the election process to pick our councillors. We feel that the Ward System is the best possible way to have our democratic principles achieved through elected officials voted into power by us.
Goal: This petition exists to establish an election process that better holds elected officials accountable to their constituents. We want to see the city divided up into Wards requiring each councillor to live in the Ward they are representing. The outcome of this will allow people living in communities the ability to vote for one councillor they deem most fit to voice their concerns at City Hall. Having elected officials dedicated to their Wards will be a much more effective tool to address issues related to economic and social concerns that the electorate have. Wards shall be divided up to ensure that representation by population is met, and that they do not dramatically exceed the amount of people living per Ward. Future population growth shall be taken into consideration when planning each Ward. Every eight years before a new council is selected, city planners shall review the size of each existing Ward to consider amendments due to population density. The current size of council, consisting of eight councillors and one mayor, shall not change with this by-law.
