City of Toronto Act

Since Toronto's original incorporation as a city in 1834, a series of different acts of parliament have governed the organization and political powers of the city.

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 County until the creation of Metropolitan Toronto in 1954.

Metropolitan Toronto Act, 1953

The Metropolitan Toronto Act was a provincial act created passed on 1953 April 15 to co-ordinate the services in the various municipalities in southern York County. It did not merge them into one government, however. The southern municipalities, being East York, 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 government, titled the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto.

The act took effect on 1954 January 1. On 1967 January 1, the thirteen municipalities were reduced to six, being Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, East York, York, and Scarborough.

Frederick Goldwin Gardiner was named the first chairman of the new Metro Council.

The Metropolitan Toronto Act was revised in 1990, and finally repealed in 1997 with the amalgamation of the Metro Toronto government and the governments of the municipalities within.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 Ontario 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.

See Common Sense Revolution entry on Bill 103.

Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2005

On December 14, 2005, the first reading of Bill 53 was given in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 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

See also

• Politics of Toronto
• Common Sense Revolution - see entry on Bill 103
• Metro Toronto (former Government body)

External links

• 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