New Bill 218, introduced by the Province's Attorney General Doug Downey this week has TWO proposed changes to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 : 1) changing the nomination date for municipal elections from 4th Friday in July to the 2ND FRIDAY IN SEPTEMBER in the year of the election.
(This is an interesting proposal, considering just 2 elections back the nomination date was January, which imo was a ridiculously long period (10 months) for people to campaign for local government, and for a 'lame duck council'. It was shortened last election to 13 weeks. Now shortening the election period to basically 7 weeks, a similar period to when the election signs customarily are permitted, might help prevent voter fatigue, in addition to harmonizing the time municipalities dedicate to holding elections with the time span of provincial and federal elections.
It would also cut out the overlap that has occurred in the past, when municipal election candidates and provincial election candidates are door knocking to engage the same voters at the same time or within a week or two or each other.
2) removing the option to use ranked ballots for municipal elections, moving all municipal governments to First-Past-The-Post.
If passed, Bill 218, called "Supporting Ontario's Recovery and Municipal Elections Act", will also provide targeted liability protection for health and long-term care, non-profit and private sector workers, volunteers, and organizations that make an honest effort to follow public health guidelines and laws related to limiting the exposure of Ontarians to COVID-19.
Bill 218, as well, will maintain the right of Ontarians to take legal action against those who willfully, or with gross negligence, endanger others. Municipal governments, workers, and by-laws that are aimed at protecting public health are referenced in the Bill. Similar legislation is in place in British Columbia and Nova Scotia.
(This is an interesting proposal, considering just 2 elections back the nomination date was January, which imo was a ridiculously long period (10 months) for people to campaign for local government, and for a 'lame duck council'. It was shortened last election to 13 weeks. Now shortening the election period to basically 7 weeks, a similar period to when the election signs customarily are permitted, might help prevent voter fatigue, in addition to harmonizing the time municipalities dedicate to holding elections with the time span of provincial and federal elections.
It would also cut out the overlap that has occurred in the past, when municipal election candidates and provincial election candidates are door knocking to engage the same voters at the same time or within a week or two or each other.
2) removing the option to use ranked ballots for municipal elections, moving all municipal governments to First-Past-The-Post.
If passed, Bill 218, called "Supporting Ontario's Recovery and Municipal Elections Act", will also provide targeted liability protection for health and long-term care, non-profit and private sector workers, volunteers, and organizations that make an honest effort to follow public health guidelines and laws related to limiting the exposure of Ontarians to COVID-19.
Bill 218, as well, will maintain the right of Ontarians to take legal action against those who willfully, or with gross negligence, endanger others. Municipal governments, workers, and by-laws that are aimed at protecting public health are referenced in the Bill. Similar legislation is in place in British Columbia and Nova Scotia.
