A shameful flip-flop
In a move rightly described as both “shameful” and “devastating,” Toronto city council reversed itself and bashed democratic reform this past week. Not only did a majority turn against giving voters more choice, but councillors urged the province to adopt this retrograde action.
Queen’s Park should do no such thing. On the contrary, the gross self-interest motivating council’s decision amply underscores the need for change — especially one that would make it harder for incumbents like these to retain office.
At issue is a proposed “ranked ballot” voting system requiring anyone elected to city council to have the support of more than half the people who go to the polls. Under existing rules successful candidates merely need to attract more votes than their next closest rival. That’s what let Christin Carmichael Greb carry Ward 16 (Eglinton-Lawrence) with just 17 per cent of the vote last time out. Put another way, 83 per cent of people casting ballots preferred someone other than the councillor they ended up with.
That wouldn’t happen in a ranked ballot system. Under this approach, voters rank candidates in order of their preference. Anyone who’s the first choice of more than 50 per cent of voters automatically wins. If no one achieves that level of support, the candidate with the fewest votes is dropped and the second-place choices of his or her supporters are counted. The process of elimination continues until someone garners a majority of votes.
This approach is widely used in the United States and has the effect of promoting diversity, giving voters additional choice, and enhancing the chances of political newcomers. No wonder Toronto politicians already in office voted 25-18 against it. What’s surprising is that two years ago city council actually supported switching to ranked ballots and urged the province to allow this reform.
Queen’s Park listened, and acted. Premier Kathleen Wynne last year instructed Municipal Affairs Minister Ted McMeekin to ensure that communities have the option of switching to a ranked ballot for the 2018 civic election.
Perhaps because that vote is drawing nearer, Toronto city council unexpectedly returned to the issue on Thursday and — without advanced notice or public input — promptly withdrew its support for ranked ballots. Worse, councillors brazenly urged Queen’s Park to torpedo the reform for everyone.
To their credit, provincial officials have indicated they’re moving forward on giving municipalities the option of using a ranked ballot system. It’s important that they don’t falter. It will be hard for Toronto’s backsliding city council to keep standing against change when other, more progressive communities have opted for reform.