The Port Colborne City Council has voted to propose reducing the number of city councillors from eight to six ahead of the 2026 municipal election. This change in Port Colborne, Ontario, would see the city reorganized from four wards into three, with two representatives elected for each area alongside the mayor.
Mayor Bill Steele explained that a seven-member council is a reasonable and efficient size for a community of 22,000 residents. He noted that the new structure would align the city with the governance models used by other municipalities of a similar size.
Because the standard deadline to make these changes independently has already passed, the city is now petitioning the provincial government for authorization. If the province approves the request, the smaller council and new ward boundaries will be in place for the next term of office.
