Local municipal poiliticians welcome earlier elections
Queen's Park changing municipal election rules
By Maija Hoggett and Matthew Talbot Alliston Herald November 10, 2009
The countdown to next year's municipal election begins.
But it could be a shorter wait to vote for municipal candidates if a new law passes.
A bill, named the Good Government Act, was introduced at Queen's Park Oct. 26. It proposes a series of changes, including moving the next election from the second Monday in November to the fourth Monday of October.
That means aspiring municipal councillors and mayors will have a couple of weeks less to run their campaigns, which can start as soon as they register to run, as early as Jan. 4, 2010, the first business day of the year.
If the bill passes, the next election will take place Oct. 25, rather than Nov. 8.
That could be good news for candidates. Some report that after Halloween, they'd have to replace and repair signs due to vandalism. Also, once the clocks change, campaigning in the early evening becomes more difficult as fewer people are likely to open their doors.
New Tecumseth's mayor and deputy mayor are in favour of the change.
Mayor Mike MacEachern said campaigning for a municipal elections currently starts in January and ends in November.
"Anything to reduce that time is important," said MacEachern.
Weather conditions are generally better in October as well and could help encourage people to participate in the election, he said.
An October election could also benefit the people who leave for sunnier climates in the winter.
"It's better having it earlier because there will be less people taking off to the south and before they leave they'll be able to vote," Deputy Mayor Rick Milne said.
Essa Mayor David Guergis said it didn't matter to him.
"It doesn't really affect me that much. It's 13 days, so it's not a big deal," Guergis said.
"With the weather moving up, it might make it better."
Guergis said the changes did catch municipal politicians a bit off guard.
Money limits are also changing. The bill, which proposes changes to the 1996 Municipal Elections Act, also clarifies campaign finance rules and establishes a contribution limit of $5,000 per contributor in each jurisdiction. Until now, a contributor could give as much as $750 to any number of candidates.
Candidates also may not keep surplus campaign funds in an account for their next election. Surpluses instead would go to municipalities.
Political hopefuls would also face firm deadlines for filing financial statements - and the province is looking to strengthen compliance and enforcement measures. There would be penalties of up to $25,000 for individuals and up to $50,000 for corporations and trade unions that violate the proposed law.
- With files from Laurie Watt