Local democracy · Chart note
Saskatchewan has nearly 20 times as many local politicians per person as Ontario
Saskatchewan has one mayor or councillor for every 258 residents. Ontario has one for every 5,093. The councils are about the same size; Saskatchewan just has far more of them.
By our count, Canada has 22,439 mayors and councillors, and they are not spread evenly. More than half of them (56%) sit in just two provinces, Quebec and Saskatchewan, which hold 26% of the population.
Per resident, Saskatchewan stands out among the provinces. It has 4,387 mayors and councillors for 1.1 million people: one for every 258 residents. Ontario has 2,793 for 14.2 million: one for every 5,093.
| Saskatchewan | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Municipalities per 100,000 residents | 68 | 3 |
| Average seats per council | 5.7 | 6.7 |
| Mayors and councillors per 100,000 residents | 387 | 20 |
Why the gap is so big
Council size is not the reason. The median council has seven seats, a mayor and six councillors, in both provinces, and Saskatchewan's average (5.7 seats) is actually a little smaller than Ontario's (6.7). The difference is the number of municipalities. Saskatchewan has 766 for 1.1 million people, or 68 per 100,000 residents. Ontario has 414 for 14.2 million, or 3 per 100,000. Saskatchewan has about 23 times as many municipalities per resident. Because its councils are slightly smaller on average, the gap in elected seats is closer to 20-fold.
Seven is the most common size, but not the only one. In Saskatchewan 48% of councils have seven seats and 78% have five to nine. In Ontario 47% have five seats, 31% have seven and 91% have five to nine.
Quebec follows the same pattern with 1,125 municipalities and 8,218 mayors and councillors, or one for every 1,035 residents. Together Quebec and Saskatchewan hold 56% of all local politicians and 26% of Canadians.
At the other end, Nova Scotia has 368 mayors and councillors, fewer than Prince Edward Island's 413, even though it has six times as many people.
The territories have even more
The territories rank above Saskatchewan: Nunavut has one for every 164 residents and the Northwest Territories one for every 227. Their communities are tiny, but each still has its own council.
| Province or territory | Mayors and councillors | Residents per mayor or councillor |
|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | 225 | 164 |
| Northwest Territories | 181 | 227 |
| Saskatchewan | 4,387 | 258 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1,498 | 341 |
| Prince Edward Island | 413 | 374 |
| Yukon | 42 | 958 |
| Quebec | 8,218 | 1,035 |
| New Brunswick | 594 | 1,306 |
| Manitoba | 879 | 1,527 |
| Alberta | 1,813 | 2,351 |
| Nova Scotia | 368 | 2,634 |
| British Columbia | 1,028 | 4,865 |
| Ontario | 2,793 | 5,093 |
| Canada | 22,439 | 1,649 |
Big cities are the exception
Council size grows far more slowly than population, so big cities have the most residents per politician. Toronto has 26 seats, the mayor and 25 councillors, for 2.79 million people. Montréal has 103 elected officials: a 65-member city council plus 38 borough councillors.
What to watch this month
Three provinces hold municipal elections in October: British Columbia on Oct. 17, Ontario on Oct. 26 and Manitoba on Oct. 28. The votes are a timely reminder of how differently local government is organized across Canada. For the latest head counts, see Saskatchewan's population in 2026 and Canada's population by province.
Common questions
How many mayors and councillors does Canada have? By our count, 22,439 in 3,405 municipalities with elected councils. The Canadian Municipal Barometer researchers put it at "at least 23,100". Their data file also lists regional and county governments, which we left out so the same people are not counted twice.
How many municipalities are in Saskatchewan? The data we used lists 766 Saskatchewan municipalities with elected councils, including rural municipalities, towns, villages and cities. That is more than Ontario's 414, for less than a twelfth of the population.
How many councillors does Toronto have? Toronto City Council has 26 members: the mayor and 25 councillors, one per ward.
