Tell Doug Ford to support local choice!

Tell Doug Ford to support local choice!

image of Tell Doug Ford to support local choice!

In a shocking and appalling move, Doug Ford is using his false majority government to ram through legislation that bans the use of ranked ballots―including proportional representation―in Ontario's cities. 

Elected to a majority with just 41% of the vote, Ford has decided that since the Progressive Conservative Party favours first-past-the-post, it's good enough for everyone.

The heavy hand of the provincial government is about to crush the right of municipalities to choose their own voting systems. 

To make matters worse, Ford stuffed his anti-democratic agenda into a COVID-focused omnibus bill, denying MPPs the ability to even ...

In a shocking and appalling move, Doug Ford is using his false majority government to ram through legislation that bans the use of ranked ballots―including proportional representation―in Ontario's cities. 

Elected to a majority with just 41% of the vote, Ford has decided that since the Progressive Conservative Party favours first-past-the-post, it's good enough for everyone.

The heavy hand of the provincial government is about to crush the right of municipalities to choose their own voting systems. 

To make matters worse, Ford stuffed his anti-democratic agenda into a COVID-focused omnibus bill, denying MPPs the ability to even debate the issue separately. 

For supporters of fair voting, there's more than the right of municipalities to choose at stake. Ford’s move will block municipalities from choosing proportional representation! 

68% of Ontario municipalities elect their councillors in at-large seats, or wards with more than one councillor. 

If those cities adopted ranked ballots, they would be using proportional representation at the local government level! It's called Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV). Here's how it works

STV is the proportional system recommended in 2005 by the BC Citizens' Assembly. It is used for local city elections in Ireland, Scotland, Cambridge Massachusetts and some cities in New Zealand. In fact, four more cities in New Zealand adopted STV for their local elections this year!  

Because STV is a proportional system, it makes almost every vote count, and produces a council that reflects the diversity of the community. 

But instead of moving democracy forward, Doug Ford is ensuring that we stay stuck with an archaic voting system.

The next vote on Ford's bill to set local democracy back could be happening within days. Can you take a minute to send a letter to Doug Ford and the other party leaders right now? 

+

Tell Doug Ford to let cities choose their own voting systems

Send a letter to Doug Ford and the other party leaders telling them that cities should have the right to choose their own voting systems.

Where do you live?

Compose your email