The Ontario government says it is proposing a series of changes to the electoral process, including removing fixed election dates and increasing the limit for political donations to $5,000.
The Ford government’s Attorney General Doug Downey announced the proposed changes in a news release on Monday, saying that it’s time to scrap “American-style fixed election dates” and see elections take place on a date determined by the premiere.
“The proposed reforms will return Ontario to an electoral process that served our province well for nearly a century and a half, prior to the imposition of American-style fixed election dates,” Downey said in a news release.
“With these reforms, governments will be better positioned to respond to changing circumstances and external threats, including by seeking a fresh mandate from the people of Ontario when it’s needed.”
The rules fall in line with previous electoral processes in the province, but were changed under Dalton McGuinty’s provincial government.
The province says it will continue to observe and consider a five-year legal maximum limit between elections.
Under the current rules, the next provincial election date would be scheduled for 2029, but if changed, the next election will take place in 2030, unless the premier calls an early election.
Earlier this year, the Ford government called an early election in February, citing the need for a new mandate to tackle the U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
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Moreover, the province says it plans to strengthen rules around campaign financing and election spending, including increasing the amount a person can donate to a political party from $3,400 to $5,000 beginning in 2026.
“Which is consistent with or less than the maximum allowable amount in other provinces such as Manitoba, Alberta and Nova Scotia,” the province said in a statement.
Future increases would fall in line with the rate of inflation, according to the province.
The government adds it will also eliminate pre-writ spending limits for third parties and political parties, and make the quarterly per-vote subsidy, received by all parties, permanent. The subsidy was set to expire at the end of 2026.
The province is also considering banning political advertisement on government property, which includes buildings, billboards, and transit stations.
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