Prior to 2003, Ontario had minimum population thresholds of 15,000 and 25,000 for city status.
Minimum population thresholds are no longer necessary for a municipality to brand itself as a city.
[5] Under that act, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) could change the status of a village or town, upon its request, to a city if it had a population of 15,000 or more.
[5] The OMB could also incorporate a township as a city under the same conditions with the exception that the population requirements was 25,000 or more.
[5] In either event, if located within a county, authorization by the Minister of Municipal Affairs was also required.