OTTAWA — Vowing to do away with “American-style” elections, Ontario is hoping to do away with fixed dates for provincial elections.
Legislation introduced into Queen’s Park on Monday will also strengthen political donation and funding rules, said Attorney General Doug Downey.
“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 statement.
“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.”
Ontario governments can now last as long as constitutionally mandated five years
Fixed election dates were introduced in 2004 under former Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty , described at the time as a means to “strengthen” democracy in Ontario.
Under those rules, elections would be held on the first Thursday in October every four years — Monday’s changes mean Ontario would revert to the constitutionally-mandated term limit of five years.
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During Doug Ford’s time as premier, Ontario hasn’t gone more than three years without an election — after securing his majority in over Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals in June 2018, the province went to the polls in June 2022, and again in Feb. 2025.
Under the current rules, the next election would have to have been held no later than October 2029.
The new rules, which have yet to pass muster in the Ontario Legislature, also increases maximum donation amounts for political parties from $3,5000 to $5,000 — effective next year — as well as provide new tools for the Chief Electoral Officer to enforce advertising rules for third-parties.
