Doug Ford's omnibus Bill 218: Supporting Ontario's Recovery Act overrides local democracy by scrapping ranked ballots without consulting voters or their local municipalities.
Our First-Past-the-Post system produces false majorities, exaggerates regional divisions, and leaves huge numbers of voters without a voice government. Ranked ballots offer citizens the opportunity to participate in an electoral system that is more fair and inclusive.
In 2018, London implemented ranked ballots, allowing tens of thousands of Londoners to rank their preferences for mayor and council elections. It worked well and it encouraged new people to run for council, including the first Black woman elected to London's city council. Following London's success, Kingston and Cambridge voted in 2018 to move ahead with ranked ballots in 2022.
Whether you support ranked ballots or not, allowing local communities to choose the way they elect their governments is a good thing for local democracy.
Watch my interview with advocates for electoral reform Dave Meslin and MPP Peggy Sattler here.
ACT NOW:
Contact Premier Ford and the Minister for Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark and tell them to respect local democracy.