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Proposed Bill Would Promote Citizen Engagement, Preserve Northern
Ridings, Introduce Real-time Disclosure of Party Donations
QUEEN'S PARK, March 7 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government today tabled
democratic renewal legislation that, if passed, would mean moving ahead on
electoral reform, preserving our 11 northern ridings, and real-time disclosure
of party donations.
"The McGuinty government is continuing its efforts to strengthen
Ontario's democracy," said Michael Bryant, Minister Responsible for Democratic
Renewal. "Moving ahead on electoral reform, preserving our 11 northern
ridings, and real-time disclosure of donations will mean a stronger
democracy."
The proposed legislation, if passed, would:
1. Give Elections Ontario the ability to select volunteers for both the
Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform and the Citizens' Jury on
Political Finance.
2. Preserve 11 northern ridings and increase the number of southern
ridings from 92 to 96 to secure strong representation for all
Ontarians in the legislature.
3. Provide for real-time public disclosure of political donations,
retroactive to January 1, 2004.
4. Re-introduce fixed election dates so they take place every four
years. The next election would be four years from the last election,
on October 4, 2007.
The Citizens' Jury will make further recommendations about how provincial
political parties and election campaigns are financed. The government will
then introduce a comprehensive plan to reduce the influence of money in
politics and provide better transparency for all Ontarians.
The Citizens' Assembly will examine Ontario's electoral system. If it
recommends changing how Ontarians elect MPPs to the legislature, the
government will hold a referendum on that alternative within its mandate.
Real-time disclosure of donations would apply to political parties and
leadership candidates in election and non-election periods and will allow the
public to track contributions on the Internet. Within five business days from
the time a donation is deposited in the bank, registered political parties
must report it to the Chief Election Officer at Elections Ontario. The Chief
Election Officer then would post this information on the Elections Ontario web
site within five business days. "This legislation would make Ontario a world
leader in transparency for political party donations," said Minister Bryant.
"With these measures, we're taking the next step in the most ambitious
democratic renewal initiative in this province's history," said Minister
Bryant. "We're poised to give Ontarians a stronger voice than ever before by
improving the quality of our democracy and modernizing our political
institutions."
Disponible en français
www.democraticrenewal.gov.on.ca
BACKGROUNDER
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ELECTION STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 2005
The Election Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005, includes provisions that
would:
1. Allow Elections Ontario to select volunteers for a Citizens' Assembly
on Electoral Reform and a Citizens' Jury on Political Finance
2. Preserve 11 northern ridings and increase the number of southern
ridings from 92 to 96 to secure strong representation for all
Ontarians in the legislature
3. Provide for the public disclosure of political donations in real time
4. Set fixed election dates to de-politicize the timing of provincial
elections.
1. Citizens' Assembly and Citizens' Jury
----------------------------------------
The Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform will explore new ideas for
electing Members of Provincial Parliament. If that assembly recommends an
alternative, all Ontarians will have their say on the assembly's
recommendations in a province-wide referendum.
A Citizens' Jury will consider changes to Ontario's political spending
and contribution limits. Changes will aim to reduce the influence of money in
politics.
Participants in the Jury and Assembly will be selected through a process
that is non-partisan, open and transparent. If passed, the Election Statute
Law Amendment Act, 2005, will allow Elections Ontario to select assembly and
jury members using the Permanent Register of Electors. The Chief Election
Officer will also ensure the diversity of Ontario is represented.
Individuals whose names are selected from the Register will be contacted
by the Chief Election Officer. If they agree, they may be selected to sit on
the Citizens' Assembly or the Citizens' Jury.
A similar process was used to set up the British Columbia Citizens'
Assembly on Electoral Reform.
2. Eleven Northern Ridings
--------------------------
Currently, the Representation Act, 1996, makes Ontario's provincial
ridings identical to those used in federal elections. As a result of
redistribution for the 2004 federal election, the number of Ontario's federal
ridings was increased from 103 to 106. However, the number of federal ridings
in Northern Ontario was reduced from 11 to 10.
At present, there are 103 MPPs in the legislature; 11 represent ridings
in Northern Ontario. Maintaining 11 northern representatives in the
legislature will ensure a strong voice for Northern Ontario.
If passed, the Election Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005, would de-link
Ontario's northern ridings from the recent federal redistribution and maintain
the existing boundaries. The number of southern ridings would increase from 92
to 96, with new boundaries in the south matching those created under the 2004
federal redistribution.
As a result, Ontarians would send 107 MPPs to Queen's Park in the next
provincial general election.
Electoral reform through the Citizens' Assembly process may result in
changes to how MPPs are elected and how many are elected. If a new electoral
system is adopted, Ontario's electoral boundaries and the redistribution
process may change.
3. Real-time Disclosure of Political Donations
----------------------------------------------
If passed, the Election Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005, would require
real-time disclosure of political donations. It will apply to political
parties and leadership candidates in both election and non-election periods.
It is the first system of its kind in Canada, and will allow the public to
track contributions through the Internet.
The proposed system would apply to contributions over $100. A political
party or leadership campaign would be required to report contributions over
$100 to the Chief Election Officer within five business days of their being
deposited into a bank account. Failure to file the report is an offence that,
if prosecuted, may result in a fine of up to double the amount of the
unreported contribution.
The Chief Election Officer will be required to post contribution reports
on the Internet within five business days.
The proposed system would take effect on the later of the day of Royal
Assent or April 1, 2005, and would require all such contributions, dating back
to January 1, 2004, to be disclosed if they have not already been reported.
4. Fixed Election Dates
-----------------------
In June 2004, the government introduced Bill 86, the Election Statute Law
Amendment Act, 2004, to provide for fixed election dates. The Election Statute
Law Amendment Act, 2005, incorporates the provisions of that bill.
If passed, the bill would provide for elections on the first Thursday in
October every four years, starting Thursday, October 4, 2007. Political
considerations would no longer be a factor in the selection of election dates.
Disponible en français
www.democraticrenewal.gov.on.ca
-30-
For further information: Greg Crone, Minister's Office, (416) 326-1785; Leon Mar, Communications Unit, (416) 314-7897
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