Premier threat to democracy
Re Province set to scrap ranked ballots for
municipal elections, Oct. 21 The attempt by the Doug Ford government to forbid the use of ranked ballots for municipal elections by slipping changes into an omnibus COVID-19 bill is not “unexplainable,” as Michael Urban suggested in the Star’s article.
It is simply a last-ditch attempt by Ford and his crew to prevent Ontarians from taking advantage of the many benefits of using ranked ballots in our electoral process.
Why? Because Conservatives know that once Ontarians see how easy it is to elect truly representative people to our local, provincial, and federal governments, it will become almost impossible for Conservatives (or any other party) to gain a majority government with only a minority of the votes.
Ford, and his Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, are threats to Ontario’s democracy, and they need to be stopped. Jeff Wood, Toronto
It comes as no surprise that Doug Ford’s government is trying to eliminate the ability of municipal governments to use a system of ranked ballots.
I believe the fear of this progressive form of voting has become enshrined in all Conservative ideology.
Most Conservatives realize that they ultimately have the most to lose. The fear is that the Conservative tent would need to shrink, excluding Conservative fundamentalists, in order that their party be anyone’s second or third choice. David Ottenbrite, Cambridge, Ont.
Municipalities are losing the right to choose a ranked ballot election. Premier Doug Ford gets riled up when the Federal government gets involved in what he calls strictly provincial issues, such as universal long-term care.
But Ford has no problem charging onto municipal territory, and in an omnibus bill, no less. (So much for the promised transparency!)
The hypocrisy of Premier Ford is glaring. Peggy Stevens, Newmarket
The Star’s article mentions that Doug Ford, himself, was elected leader of his party via ranked ballot.
So, he may just be worried that what befell Ontario would befall our municipalities, too. Louis Desjardins, Belleville
Premier Doug Ford has, yet again, unilaterally interfered with the ability of the City of Toronto to decide how it is governed. In 2018, he cut the size of City Council by almost half. Now, he proposes to remove the power of the City (and other Ontario municipalities) to move to a ranked ballot system in municipal elections.
The Preamble to the City of Toronto Act states that “the (provincial Legislative) Assembly recognizes that the success of the City requires the active participation of governments working together in a partnership based on respect, consultation and co-operation,” and “the City is a government that is capable of exercising its powers in a responsible and accountable fashion.”
I believe that these principles should guide the relationship between the province and the city. Ford clearly disagrees: His actions show that he has no interest in working with the city in a respectful and consultative manner, and does not consider the city to be capable of governing itself responsibly.