Toronto and North York are not the same place, and for most of the 20th century they were not the same government either. North York became a township in 1922, a borough on January 1, 1967, and a city on February 14, 1979, then ceased to exist as a municipality on January 1, 1998, when the province merged Metropolitan Toronto and its six area municipalities into one City of Toronto. This article follows that chain of governments. Where the district lies and how addresses work is covered in a separate geography article.
From township to city, 1922 to 1979
The City of Toronto Archives lists the stages. Before 1922 the area was part of York Township in York County. The Township of North York was created on July 18, 1922; the City’s centennial exhibit gives June 13, 1922 for incorporation, and the two sources do not explain the difference. On April 15, 1953 North York became one of 13 municipalities under the new Metropolitan Toronto government, a number reduced to six by 1967: East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto, and York. See Metropolitan Toronto for how the regional layer worked.
On January 1, 1967 North York was renamed a borough, with Jim Service as first mayor, according to the exhibit. It was incorporated as a city on February 14, 1979. Mel Lastman, mayor since December 4, 1972, held the office until 1997.
| Date | Status |
|---|---|
| July 18, 1922 | Township created |
| April 15, 1953 | One of 13 municipalities in Metro |
| January 1, 1967 | Borough |
| February 14, 1979 | City |
| January 1, 1998 | Part of the amalgamated City of Toronto |
The amalgamation bill of 1996 and 1997
The Ontario government introduced Bill 103 on December 17, 1996. Its text uses the short title City of Toronto Act, 1996, while the Legislative Assembly’s page lists it as the City of Toronto Act, 1997. The explanatory note says it replaced the seven existing municipal governments of Metropolitan Toronto with a single-tier City of Toronto effective January 1, 1998. Those seven were Metro itself and the six area municipalities.
Second reading was carried on January 30, 1997. The bill went to the Standing Committee on General Government from February 3 to March 6, then to the Committee of the Whole House from April 1 to April 11. Third reading and royal assent came on April 21, 1997, per the Legislative Assembly record. The new council was to have 44 wards and a head of council elected citywide in the 1997 municipal election. A board of trustees oversaw the financial affairs of the seven governments during 1997, and a transition team planned the changeover.
The 1997 vote that did not stop it
In March 1997 the six municipalities held referendums on amalgamation. The Canadian Encyclopedia reports that about three-quarters of participating voters said no, and that turnout was about one-third of eligible voters. It also records that provincial ministers called the questions biased and the voters’ lists unreliable, and said the plan would go ahead. The encyclopedia gives no precise percentage, and secondary sources quote slightly different regional figures, so none is printed here. The bill passed as scheduled on April 21.
What changed for residents
On January 1, 1998, the City of North York ceased to exist and Toronto became a single municipality, according to the City exhibit and the Archives. Residents kept their streets, postal codes, and the name North York for the area. What changed was the government: one council and one mayor instead of seven governments. Mel Lastman, the last mayor of the City of North York, became the first mayor of the amalgamated city and served from 1998 to 2003. Later developments belong to Toronto mayors and municipal elections.
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Common questions
When did North York stop being a city?
On January 1, 1998, when the City of Toronto Act took effect and merged Metro Toronto with its six area municipalities.
Did voters in North York approve amalgamation?
No. The Canadian Encyclopedia reports that about three-quarters of participating voters in the Toronto-area referendums of March 1997 voted against it. The province said it would proceed regardless, and the law passed on April 21, 1997.
Were Scarborough and Etobicoke affected too?
Yes. All six municipalities, East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto, and York, were merged on the same day.
Is there a separate article on the history of North York itself?
Yes. The article on the former municipality covers settlement, industry, and growth.
Last verified: October 2026
Sources
- City of Toronto Archives, Resources on former municipalities (https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/city-of-toronto-archives/whats-in-the-archives/research-by-topic/resources-on-former-municipalities/)
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Bill 103, City of Toronto Act, 1997 (https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-36/session-1/bill-103)
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, Toronto’s struggle against amalgamation (https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/torontos-struggle-against-amalgamation)
- City of Toronto, Celebrating 100 Years of North York, Mel Lastman page (https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/online-exhibits/web-exhibits/web-exhibits-community-neighbourhoods/progress-economy-heart-celebrating-100-years-of-north-york/progress-economy-heart-mel-lastman/)
Related reading
- North York: history of the former municipality
- Metropolitan Toronto of 1954
- Toronto mayors and municipal elections
- Scarborough: history of the former municipality
- Toronto facts: location, population, geography and weather
Cite this page
APA: History of Toronto. (2026, October 27). How North York became part of Toronto, 1922 to 1998. http://localhost:8210/blog/is-toronto-the-same-as-north-york
MLA: “How North York became part of Toronto, 1922 to 1998.” History of Toronto, 27 Oct. 2026, http://localhost:8210/blog/is-toronto-the-same-as-north-york. Accessed .
Chicago: History of Toronto. “How North York became part of Toronto, 1922 to 1998.” Last modified October 27, 2026. http://localhost:8210/blog/is-toronto-the-same-as-north-york.
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