Downtown Lethbridge

By Connor Gunn/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Lethbridge residents to vote on ward system

Jul 14, 2021 | 9:38 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The City of Lethbridge will have residents vote in October on whether its municipal government should move to a ward system starting in 2025.

At Lethbridge’s city council meeting Tuesday, councillors voted to place a question on the Oct. 18, General Municipal Election Ballot that reads: “Do you support using a ward system to elect City Councillors (other than the Mayor) starting with the 2025 municipal election?”

“Council defeated earlier efforts to have a Citizen Assembly to explore a ward system,” says Councillor Jeff Coffman, who introduced the motion.

“Voters, not elected representatives, should determine their electoral system, so putting this question on the ballot gives voters power to tell City Council what they expect for the 2025 election.”

“Lethbridge City Council is currently elected at large, meaning that eight councillors and one mayor serve the entire City and all of its residents – and during the municipal election, residents vote for eight councillors and one mayor and have representation from them all,” the release reads.

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“A ward is a local authority area, or electoral district, within a municipality.”

Coffman hopes the next council would honour the results of the question on each ballot.

“I would expect the next Council to honour the results of the question and – if supported – immediately begin preparing for the new structure in 2025.”