City of Toronto Act
Encyclopedia
City of Toronto Act is the name of a series of different acts of parliament that have governed the organization and political powers of the city since Toronto
's original incorporation as a city in 1834.
until the creation of Metropolitan Toronto
in 1954.
, Etobicoke, Forest Hill
, Leaside
, Long Branch
, Mimico
, New Toronto
, North York, Scarborough
, Swansea
, Toronto, Weston
, and York
, were separated from York County and organized under a new regional federation, titled the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
.
The act went into effect on April 15, 1953, and Metro's taxation and legislative powers took effect on January 1, 1954. The federation was governed by a council made up of representatives of the member municipalities and a chairman to oversee the council. The first chairman was Fred Gardiner, appointed by the Province of Ontario. Subsequent chairmen were selected by Council itself, and later directly elected.
On January 1, 1967, seven of the thirteen municipalities were absorbed into the six remaining federation members, being Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, East York
, York
, and Scarborough
. The Metropolitan Toronto Act was revised in 1990, and finally repealed in 1997 with the amalgamation of the Metro Toronto government and the governments of the municipalities within.
enacted a law to amalgamate the Metro Toronto government and the six municipalities within the Metro Toronto boundaries. The act took effect on 1998 January 1.
. Also known as the Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2005, it enacts the new City of Toronto Act, 2005, as well as amends and repeals various public acts related to Toronto, and repeals various private acts also related to the city. The bill received its second reading on 2006 April 10 and was referred to the Standing Committee on General Government, which returned it to the Legislature on 2006 May 30. On 2006 June 12, the bill received its third reading and Royal Assent
after a 58-20 vote http://www.ontla.on.ca/hansard/house_debates/38_parl/Session2/L088A.htm#PARA292.
This law permitted the Toronto government to enter into agreements with other governments, and increased the scope for the city government to raise revenue. Tax powers in Canada are defined by the constitution and restrict certain powers of direct taxation only to the federal government.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's original incorporation as a city in 1834.
Incorporation of the City of Toronto, 1834
The Incorporation of the City of Toronto on 1834 March 6 was a legislative act creating the former City of Toronto from the unincorporated town of York. This allowed for the creation of the local government or city council. The act was transferred onto the succeeding governments of Ontario in 1840 and 1867. The incorporation remained in effect throughout Toronto's mergers with other cities and towns within southern York CountyYork County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
until the creation of Metropolitan Toronto
Metropolitan Toronto
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a senior level of municipal government in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area from 1954 to 1998. It was created out of York County and was a precursor to the later concept of a regional municipality, being formed of smaller municipalities but having more...
in 1954.
Metropolitan Toronto Act, 1953
The Metropolitan Toronto Act was a provincial act passed on April 2, 1953 to co-ordinate the services in the various municipalities of southern York County. The southern municipalities, being East YorkEast York
East York can refer to:*East York, Pennsylvania, United States*East York, Ontario, Canada...
, Etobicoke, Forest Hill
Forest Hill, Toronto
Forest Hill is an affluent neighbourhood in central Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Along with Lawrence Park, Rosedale, and The Bridle Path, it is one of Toronto’s wealthiest neighbourhoods.-History:...
, Leaside
Leaside
Leaside is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The area takes its name from William Lea and the Lea family, who settled there in the early years of the nineteenth century. The area first developed as farmland along with Toronto through the nineteenth century. It was incorporated as a...
, Long Branch
Long Branch, Toronto
The former Village of Long Branch is a neighbourhood in the south-west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-west corner of the former Township of Etobicoke and was a partially-independent municipality from 1930-1967...
, Mimico
Mimico
The historic Town of Mimico is a neighbourhood in the south-western part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-east corner of the former Township of Etobicoke, and was an independent municipality from 1911 to 1967....
, New Toronto
New Toronto
The historic Town of New Toronto is a neighbourhood in the south-west end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-centre of the former Township of Etobicoke and was an independent municipality from 1913 to 1967, one of the former 'Lakeshore Municipalities'...
, North York, Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
, Swansea
Swansea, Toronto
Swansea is a neighbourhood in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, bounded on the west by the Humber River, on the north by Bloor Street, on the east by High Park and on the south by Lake Ontario...
, Toronto, Weston
Weston, Toronto
Weston is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the northwest end of the city, within the former boundaries of the old City of York. The neighbourhood generally lies south of Highway 401, east of the Humber River, north of Eglinton Avenue, and west of Jane Street. Weston Road just north of...
, and York
York, Ontario
York is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
, were separated from York County and organized under a new regional federation, titled the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
Metropolitan Toronto
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a senior level of municipal government in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area from 1954 to 1998. It was created out of York County and was a precursor to the later concept of a regional municipality, being formed of smaller municipalities but having more...
.
The act went into effect on April 15, 1953, and Metro's taxation and legislative powers took effect on January 1, 1954. The federation was governed by a council made up of representatives of the member municipalities and a chairman to oversee the council. The first chairman was Fred Gardiner, appointed by the Province of Ontario. Subsequent chairmen were selected by Council itself, and later directly elected.
On January 1, 1967, seven of the thirteen municipalities were absorbed into the six remaining federation members, being Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, East York
East York
East York can refer to:*East York, Pennsylvania, United States*East York, Ontario, Canada...
, York
York, Ontario
York is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
, and Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
. The Metropolitan Toronto Act was revised in 1990, and finally repealed in 1997 with the amalgamation of the Metro Toronto government and the governments of the municipalities within.
City of Toronto Act, 1997 (Bill 103)
In 1997, the Legislative Assembly of OntarioLegislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
enacted a law to amalgamate the Metro Toronto government and the six municipalities within the Metro Toronto boundaries. The act took effect on 1998 January 1.
Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2005
On December 14, 2005, the first reading of Bill 53 http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/bills/382/53382.htm was given in the Legislative Assembly of OntarioLegislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
. Also known as the Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2005, it enacts the new City of Toronto Act, 2005, as well as amends and repeals various public acts related to Toronto, and repeals various private acts also related to the city. The bill received its second reading on 2006 April 10 and was referred to the Standing Committee on General Government, which returned it to the Legislature on 2006 May 30. On 2006 June 12, the bill received its third reading and Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
after a 58-20 vote http://www.ontla.on.ca/hansard/house_debates/38_parl/Session2/L088A.htm#PARA292.
This law permitted the Toronto government to enter into agreements with other governments, and increased the scope for the city government to raise revenue. Tax powers in Canada are defined by the constitution and restrict certain powers of direct taxation only to the federal government.
See also
- Politics of TorontoPolitics of TorontoThe politics of Toronto begins with residents of Toronto, Ontario, Canada electing representatives to the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government...
- Common Sense RevolutionCommon Sense RevolutionThe phrase Common Sense Revolution has been used as a political slogan to describe common sense conservative platforms in Australia and the U.S. state of New Jersey in the 1990s. Based on the Singapore Model of economics, its main goal is to reduce taxes while balancing the budget by reducing the...
- see entry on Bill 103 - Metro Toronto (former Government body)
External links
- City of Toronto Act, 2006, Government of Ontario e-Laws site
- Former City of Toronto Records
- Metropolitan Toronto Records
- Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Act, 1990
- City of Toronto Act, 1997
- City of Toronto Act, 1997 (No. 2)
- Bill 53, 38th Legislature, Ontario (PDF)
- Toronto Mayor's website on Toronto Acts