HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-14-023 - Voter Turnout - Staff Follow-Up Actions Staff Report
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REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: May 12, 2014
SUBMITTED BY: Laurie Majcher, Manager, Strategy & Business Planning
519-741-2200 Ext. 7817
PREPARED BY: Laurie Majcher, Manager, Strategy & Business Planning
519-741-2200 Ext. 7817
WARD(S) INVOLVED: N/A
DATE OF REPORT: April 28, 2014
REPORT NO.: CAO-14-023
SUBJECT: Voter Turnout—Staff Follow-Up Actions
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
BACKGROUND:
In 2006 voter turnout for the election averaged 24% in Kitchener. In the last election in 2010 the
turnout ranged from 20% to 29% throughout the 10 individual wards. In late 2011 Compass
Kitchener established a sub-committee to further explore this issue. On March 3, 2014,
Compass Kitchener presented Council with a report entitled Compass Kitchener Voter Turnout
Sub-committee Report to Kitchener City Council, dated February 10, 2014. The report provided
an update on the work that had been completed to date by the Committee, planned future work
and conclusions for Council's consideration. Following discussion of the report, Council passed
the following motion:
1. "That the Compass Kitchener Voter Turnout Sub-Committee report, dated February 10,
2014 be accepted as an update on the Compass Kitchener Work Plan; and,
2. That the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing be requested to amend the Municipal
Elections Act, 1996 as well as Form 1 (Nomination Paper) to allow municipal candidates
to include website and biographical information on the municipality's website, with a
copy of this motion to be circulated to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO);
and,
3. That staff be directed to further investigate the City of Toronto initiative, including
public consultation, requesting the Province to enact further amendments to the
Municipal Elections Act, 1996 to allow all permanent residents to vote in municipal
elections; and,
4. That endorsement be given, in principle, to having Compass Kitchener follow-up on
models that may increase citizen engagement generally in municipal affairs leading to
increased voter engagement; and further,
5. That staff be directed to develop an ongoing work plan to increase voter turnout,
outside of the work proposed by Compass Kitchener, which is to be undertaken
on a regular basis between municipal elections."
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The purpose of this report is to follow-up on the actions taken by staff to respond to items #3
and #5.
REPORT:
City of Toronto Initiative—Votes for Permanent Residents
Staff have further investigated the City of Toronto initiative to allow permanent residents the
right to vote in municipal elections. Staff have outlined the next steps with respect to
undertaking public consultation on this matter which may lead to a request by the City of the
Province to enact amendments to the Municipal Elections Act.
Context
Each year, approximately 250,000 permanent residents come to Canada. A permanent
resident is someone who has been given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada,
but is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents are citizens of other countries. As a
permanent resident, you have the right to: get most social benefits that Canadian citizens
receive, including health care coverage; live, work or study anywhere in Canada; apply for
Canadian citizenship; and, protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms. You must pay taxes and respect all Canadian laws at the federal, provincial and
municipal levels. A person in Canada temporarily, like a student or foreign worker, is not a
permanent resident. Permanent residents pay local taxes and use city services, but cannot vote
or run for elected office. This issue has been raised by researchers and community advocates
as a disincentive to permanent residents' greater participation in municipal civil society and
unnecessary marginalization of particular voices in municipal elections.
On January 31, 2013, as part of Toronto City Council's consideration of the Toronto Newcomer
Strategy, the City of Toronto's Community Development and Recreation Committee heard from
a number of academics, community-based service providers and community funders on a range
of immigration and settlement issues, including the eligibility of permanent residents to
participate in municipal elections. At that time, the Committee put forward a request to review
"the opportunity to have permanent residents in Toronto be given the right to vote in municipal
elections."
Considerations
On April 24, 2013, a report to the City of Toronto Government Management Committee
identified the following considerations for allowing permanent residents the right to vote:
Legislative changes required: Section 17(2) of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) prescribes that
only Canadian citizens are entitled to vote in a municipal election. This qualification applies not
only to Council elections, but also to school board elections and for determining candidate
eligibility. A legislative amendment is required to change the voter qualifications. Voting rights
are likely a matter of provincial interest. If the Province extends the franchise to include
permanent residents, all legislation referring to "electors" or "voters", including the MEA, must
be revisited to determine how it impacts other legislated activities.
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Eligibility to run for office: The definition of "candidate" would also be affected. Unless the
province provides otherwise, if voting rights were extended to permanent residents, they would
also be able to file nomination papers and become candidates in the municipal election.
Impact for school board elections: In order for the school board elections to remain concurrent
with the municipal election, voting requirements need to be consistent. If the school board
election had different voting qualifications than the municipal election, then a separate process
needs to be developed to administer the school board elections at a significant cost.
Impact on voters' list: The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has the
statutory responsibility for providing the preliminary list of electors, which is used to create the
voters' lists for all of Ontario's municipalities. Extending the municipal election franchise to
include permanent residents will have significant implications for how the voters' list is compiled.
MPAC's database does not collect permanent resident information. There is no known updated
list that provides the names and addresses of individuals with permanent resident status. It is
unknown whether Citizenship and Immigration Canada, a federal government department, is
prepared to share its data with MPAC for municipal election purposes.
Extensive consultation required: Extending voting rights to permanent residents is a
fundamental change to Ontario's municipal voting process. The Province will have to undertake
extensive consultation with the public and all affected stakeholders, including: MPAC, Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Community and Social Services, the Association of Municipal Managers,
Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario and school boards.
Extensive public education required: The requirement for Canadian citizenship is consistent
across all three levels of government in election legislation. Permitting permanent residents to
vote in municipal elections, but not in provincial and federal elections, may cause voter
confusion. Extending the franchise to permanent residents will require a comprehensive
communication strategy in advance of voting day.
Increased administrative costs: The cost for administering the election is unknown but will
increase in order to accommodate the increased number of eligible electors, necessitating more
ballots, staff, voting places, vote-counting equipment, election supplies, translation
requirements, etc.
Toronto's Position
On June 11, 2013, Toronto City Council adopted the following recommendations:
1. City Council request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to commence
discussion with the Federal Government of Canada with the view to defining permanent
residency for the purposes of considering and permitting permanent residents the right to
vote in municipal elections in Toronto.
2. City Council request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to amend the
necessary legislation to allow Permanent Residents the right to vote in municipal
elections.
3. In the event the Province of Ontario changes Municipal Elections Act to allow permanent
residents to vote, City Council request the Province to ensure that the legislation
includes an appropriate time period for permanent residency.
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The letter from Toronto City Council to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, dated June
20, 2013 and the response from the Minister, dated August 13, 2013 are attached. (Appendix A)
In response to a poll conducted between Aug. 20 and Sept. 1, 2013 of 3,951 Torontonians, 53%
of people disagreed with the move to allow permanent residents to vote. Permanent residents
made up 6 per cent of those polled (159 people) — a sample considerably lower than their
percentage in the population as a whole (15 per cent, according to the Maytree Foundation).
Surprisingly, 32 per cent (51 people) of those non-citizens polled also opposed the move.
Next Steps
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing reviews the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
following every election, and welcome the input of municipal councils and members of the
public. City staff, in collaboration with Compass Kitchener, can undertake a community
consultation process to solicit public opinion on amending the necessary legislation to allow
Permanent Residents the right to vote in municipal elections as part of our 2015 work plans.
Staff Work Plan to Increase Voter Turnout
The following section outlines the actions taken to date to encourage voter turnout for the 2014
election, along with actions already planned for the future and other next steps.
2014 Initiatives
As the result of the Elections Process Review that was completed in 2013, the following
improvements will be implemented for the 2014 municipal election:
1. Improved communication tactics - streamlined/decentralized website posting with real-
time information for citizens about the election, registered candidates and other
resources, and a marketing campaign is being developed and to include print media,
social media and other promotion channels to target citizens with the goal to increase
voter turnout development in partnership with other local municipalities.
2. Improved convenience and access to voting locations – advance polls located based on
population concentration and major highways improving access since citizens can vote
at any location near their home, place of work or on their commute route; apartment
building advance polls will be discontinued due to low turnout; small polls consolidated
into larger voting locations with more parking; augmented hours at institutions and
retirement homes as a means of making a more effective use of election resources.
3. Technology improvements - new software for electronic voter strike-off and elections
information management meaning reduced wait time at polls and ballots on demand at
advance polls meaning ballots can be printed for voters from any ward, at any advance
poll location.
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2013-2014 On-going Initiatives
In addition to improvements to the 2014 election process, City staff will continue to make
progress on the following initiatives in 2014 and 2015 that are focussed on engaging and
involving residents in civic matters which has been strongly linked to higher levels of voter
turnout:
1. Youth Forum - To engage youth to learn how to create community change; build positive
relationships with council, city staff; learn about municipal government and how it
impacts them. 2013/2014 school year featured four Youth Forums with Resurrection
Catholic Secondary School and Kitchener Collegiate Institute.
2. Open Government Framework - update Accountability and Transparency Policy, review
work plan to include Open Government framework and begin to implement tools in
support of the framework. In February 2014 Finance and Corporate Services Committee
approved the updated Policy and first year action in a 4-year Open Government Action
Plan, including the development of: Community Engagement Policy; E-participation
strategies; Strengthen the City's competencies, processes and practices for effectively
engaging the public; and Open Data portal launch and data set automation to give
citizens access to information so they can potentially get involved in solving local issues.
3. My Ideal City - In partnership with the Kitchener Citizen, council hosted a report-writing
contest for grade 5 students. In 2013, thirteen youth contributed reports and participated
in a mock debate with council. The 2014 My Ideal City is scheduled for May 5th, and 131
student reports have been submitted.
Planned future initiatives
4. Brand Strategy - a comprehensive multi-year roll-out plan for the consultation,
conception and implementation of a true brand for the city, the yardstick by which to
measure future plans and projects, as well as a guiding principle through which
employees, citizens and the global community view the City of Kitchener.
5. Neighbourhood Strategy — development of a comprehensive neighbourhood strategy
focused on engaging and empowering more residents in planning, building, sustaining
and supporting safe and thriving neighbourhoods based on the unique character and
needs of each individual neighbourhood; building a strong sense of belonging and
connection between residents and their neighbourhoods as a way of increasing civic
pride and community; and aligning municipal staff behind a focus on building safe and
thriving neighbourhoods as the basis for a healthy community.
6. 2015-2018 Strategic Plan — set clear goals for the next term of council that will guide
resource allocations, policy decisions, business plans and performance targets that are
valued by the community, relevant to Council and achievable by the organization; Raise
awareness, involvement and discussion of City matters and the public interest related to
the next term of Council; focus on accountability, participation & good governance
Strategies for 2015-2018.
In addition to specific projects, Corporate Communications and Marketing has an ongoing
commitment to inform and engage the public on key programs, policies, initiatives and
decisions. Volunteer Resources in the Community Services Department provides services to
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develop, improve and expand on civic engagement programs that encourage self-directed
volunteering opportunities and provides opportunities, and maintains resources and tools for
community members to learn how they can get engaged with the City.
Compass Kitchener will be consulted on joint initiatives for their 2015 work plan to engage the
community on voting rights for permanent residents and planned future initiatives to increase
community engagement that is expected to result in increased voter turnout.
Other Next Steps
Future staff work plan initiatives focused on increasing community engagement and voter
turnout will be explored and prioritized through the 2015-2016 business planning process.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Leadership and Community Engagement — promote decisions that last; make it easy to get
involved; e-engagement is here to stay; cultivate local leadership; and hand it to the youth.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no new financial implications associated with this body of work. Resource
requirements to support community engagement initiatives for the 2015 staff work plan will be
addressed through the next business planning and budget cycle.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Inform — it is the purpose of this report to inform Council and the public about the work that was
undertaken by the City of Toronto to extend the right to vote in municipal elections to permanent
residents, as well as the initiatives on staff work plans that are designed to increase community
engagement and voter turnout.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Chief Administrative Officer
Appendices:
Appendix A: City of Toronto Request for Votes for Permanent Residents and Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Housing Response.
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Crea'Ilk 1
,0 JIL Ulli S.Watkiss
dioHowo City Clark
Secretariat Tel:416-392-7032
City Clerk's Office Marilyn Taft Fax-,416192-2980
cou"d Secretariat Support e-in rntoft@iororito.ca
City Hall, 12"floor,West
100 Oueen Street West web:www.toronto.ca
Toronto,Ontario M511 2142
In reply please quote:
Ref,: 13-GM22.15
June 20, 2013
The Honourable Linda Jeffrey
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Province of Ontario
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
MG 2E5
Dear Minister
Subject: Government Management Committee Item 22.15
Proposed Electoral Reforms (Ward All)
City Council on June 11, 12 and 13, 2013, adopted this Item, as amended, and in so doing:
1. City Council request the Province of Ontario to amend the Municipal Elections Act to
authorize the use and establish the framework of Ranked Choice Voting to permit
Toronto City Council to use ranked ballots and instant runoff voting in municipal
elections.
2. City Council request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to commence
discussion with the Federal Government of Canada with the view to defining permanent
residency for the purposes of considering and permitting permanent residents the right
to vote in municipal elections in Toronto.
3. City Council request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to amend the
necessary legislation to allow Permanent Residents the right to vote in municipal
elections.
4. In the event the Province of Ontario changes Municipal Elections Act to allow permanent
residents to vote, City Council request the Province to ensure that the legislation
includes an appropriate time period for permanent residency.
5. City Council request the Province of Ontario to ensure that miunicipal elections are not
held on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays, or on holidays of religious significance.
6. City Council request the City Clerk to form a working group that includes Toronto
Employment and Social Services, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the
Disability Issues Committee, and community stakeholders to implement Internet voting
for persons with disabilities in time for the 2014 municipal election.
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2
7. City Council request the City Clerk to monitor developments in internet voting as it
pertains to privacy, accessibility, reliability and security issues and to report back to City
Council by November 2015 with recommendations as to determine whether it should be
adopted in the City-wide municipal elections in 2018.
& City Council request the City Clerk to implement a civic education strategy once any
changes to electoral reforms are put into effect.
9. City Council request the City Clerk to consult with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing and to report to the Executive Committee on feasible firnelines and structure for
a Municipal Election Finance Review.
Yours sincerely,
for C4.,CC'lerk
M. Toft/sb
Attachment
Sent to: Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Province of Ontario
All Interested Parties
C. ,-City Clerk
City Manager
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Page I of,3
Considered by City Council on
Committee Report June 11, 2013
L Torson"TO June 12, 2013
N Report Item June 13, 2013
Government Management Committee
IGM22. 15 I Amended I Ward,.Atf
Proposed Electoral Reforms
City Council Decision
City Counci I oil June H, 12 and 13, 2013, adopted tile following:
1. City (-'ouncil request the Province Of 01IMHO tOaIIIClld tile MUllicipal Elections Act to
authorize the use and establish [lie franiework of Ranked Choice Voting to lice-juit
'Toronto City Council to use ranked ballots and instant ruriol'I'voting in nitinicipal
elections,
2. City Council I.Cquest [lie Minister of'MunIcIpal Affairs and I-IOUSIng to collillience
discussion widi tile l"'ederal Governinent of Canada with [lie view to defining pern'lanent
residency for the purposes of considering and perinitting peraianent residents the right
to vote in nrunicilial elections ill Toronto.
3. City Council request the Minister of"Municipal Affairs and Housing to arnend the
necessary lcgislation to allow Pernianent Residents the right to vote in niunicipal
elecliojls.
4. 111 tile event (lie Province o1*011tario changes Municipal Elections Act to allow
perniallent r-esidents to vote, City Council request the Province to ensure that the
lCgiSlati011 ilICILKICS all cippropliate tinge period for permanent residency.
5. City Council request tile Province of0ritario to ensure that 1111.11liCipal elections are
not held on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays, or can holidays of religious significance,
6. City Council request tile City Clerk to forin as working grot,q) that includcs 'Foronto,
1...�"niploytrient and Social Services, Social Development, Finance and Adininistration, the
Disabilily Issues Coninlitlee, and coniniunity stakeholders to iinplen'ient internet Voting
for persons with disabilities ill firne for the 2014 inunicipal election.
7. City Council request the City Clerk to monitor(level oplilents In Internet voting as it
lict-tains to privacy, access ibi I ity, relial)ility ill(] security issues and to report back to
City (''o uncil by November-2015 with rcconiniendabons as to (Icterriline whether it
Should he !KIOj)tCd ill IIIC City-Wide ITILIlliCipal CICCtIO1IS ill 2018.
8. City COUIICII rUILICSt tile City Clerk to linpIcnient as civic education strategy once any
chanoes to electoral refornis are lag into effect.
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J'age 2 of 3
9. City Council request the City Clerk to consult with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs
and Housing all(l to report to tile Executive Coniniftice on feasible tiiijelilics all(i
structure for a Municipal Election Finance Review.
Committee Recommendations
The Government Management Corniniuce sLibillits the itell'i to City Council Without
FecOill I'llelld'it.i oil,
Origin
(April 24, 2013) Report from the City Managet—and the City Clerk
Summary
This report rcsl)oii(,Is to various Corninittec requcsts oil tile feasibility of implementing electoral
reforins ill the City's elcctioils: (1) holding elections oil a Saturday or Sunday; (2) allowing
permanent resi(Icirts the right to vote-, (3) using ranked choice voting; and (4) provi(ling internet
Voting for voters With (lisabilities.
The Municiped E'lec"Womv Ac°/, 1996 ("AlILA") govenis the administration ofniunicipal elections
ill Ontario. A number of"arileri(Inici its to tile MEA and possibly other affecte(l legislation are
required ill order for the proposed reforms to take effccl. Due 10 the size, Scope all(I corliplexity
of elections ill Toronto, it takes years to plan for each regular election, A decision to
irtiplellient any electoral reforms should lie made as carly as possible, well ill advance ofa
regular ClOdioll year. A late-terin decision to iniplerilerit any of tile refornis rimy impact the
successful (1clivery ofthe clectioll Which COLIW CXp0SC the City 10 p0tClIti,11 COUrt ClIa1lCIIgCS.
The full implications cif the wfornis, cannot be determined until the specific (letails of the policy
and legislation have peen (le(crillille(l. The nature of`these proposed reforms also requires
extensive consultation With various stakeholders. This report outlines sorne cif the key
consi(Icrations and issues should Council wish to request the province for legislative
'1111crWillcrils.
Background Information (Committee)
(April 24, 2013) Report from the City Manager all(] the City Clerk can Proposed Elec(oral
Reforms
(htip://www.toronto.cai egdocs/mmis/2013/qm/bqrd/backgroundfiVe-57756,.pdf)
Communications (Committee)
(April 23, 20,13) Letter front Councillor Paul Ainslie, Ward 43 - Scarborough
East (GM.Miin.(JM22.15.1)
(Fret p-,//www,toroiito,ca/leqdocs/mt,nis/2013/Ar-n/comm/communicationfile-36845.pd )
(May 9, 2013) from Antony Hilliar(l (GM.New.('JM22.l5.2)
(May 9, 2013) F1-jnail froin BITICC Stewart, ((-1M.New.GM22.15.3)
(M,ay 9, 2()l3,) E-mail front Ted Miller((IM.New.GM22.15,4)
(May 9, 2013) E-niall froni Rodney Merchant (GM.New.GM22.15.5)
(May 9, 2013) E-mail from Molly Barincrilian (GM,New,GM22.15.6)
(May 9 20 13) F--mail from Roy Murray (GM.Ncw.GM22.15.7)
(May 9 2013) Letter front Derck Larson, Vice-Chair, Civic Engagement Commilice, ar)(1 Brad
Every, Internal Cot)im issioner, L`xectitive Corrimi(tec, Gra(litatc Students' Union, University of
IFI 10
Page 3 o1'3
Toronto ((jM.New.GM22A5,8)
(,qn://www.tororito.ca/legdocs/mrtiis/201 3/gm/comm/comt-nunicationfife-371,49,pdf)
(May 9, 2013) E-mail from Mail Kassirer (GM.New.GM22.15.9)
(May 9, 2013) E-mail from Annie and Jason Dice magi (GM.New.GM22.15.10)
(May 9, 2013) E-mail fi-om David Simmons (GM.New.GM22.15.1 1)
(May 10, 2013) E-mad fr-om John Caffery (GM.New.GM22,.15.12)
(May 10, 2013) F'I-mail from Jim Rootham ((jM,Ncw.GM22.15.13)
(May 11, 2013) F!,mail fl-om Raaj 13ha•ati (GM.New,(IIM22.15.14)
(May 12, 2(013) E-mail t'rotn 'rill) ROUrke (GM.New.GM22.15.15)
(May 13, 2013) SLINIIISS1011 fi-011ihitic Macdomdd (GM.New.GM22.15.1(a)
(May 13, 2013) Stibmissioii from Joyce I-hall, Co-chaff, 'roroi,to Chal)(er offair Vote
Ca mida (GM.Ncw.GM22.15.17)
(May 13, 20 13) Letter from Gregg, Hill (C;M.New.GM22,15.18)
(May 13, 2013) SLINIIkSi011 from Ryati Eiidoh, Co-Director of Media Rclatiows, wid 'I'l-evaill
Britian, Director OfCO111111LIni(y Engagctmiit, T01'01ItO YOUth Cabijiet (GM.New.GM22,15,19)
(May 13, 20 13) Stibmissim from Gary bale, Camidiati MUSIiIII Uiioti (GM.New.GM22.15,20,)
(May 13, 2(013) Submission from Gerry I lobden (GM.New.GN122,15.2 1)
(May 13, 2013) SLibmissioii from Susanne Waldorf, Civics and Envirminient Commissimer,
Gradilate Students, L.Jilion, University ol"Formto (GM.Ncw.GM22,15,22')
Communications (City Council)
(J unc 6, 2013) E-mail fi-om Jack 13 rannigan (CCStip1i.GM22A5.23)
(Jtme 11, 2013) Stibmissloii from Councillor W111,11,1-wolig - material froii,i Cidmiship and
11,1111ligration Callada on eligibility for citimishil) (CC.New.GM22,15,24)
(http://www,toronto.cMeadocs/t-nmis/2013/cc/comm/cominunicatiorifil'e-380,63.[2d
Speakers
Gary Dale, Membershil') Secretary, Caiiadian Mi.isfim [Mim (Submission Filed)
Stisamie, Waldorf, Civics and biviromimit Commissimer, Gradtiate Students' Unioll,
(.,iniversity 01"roron(o (St,ibmission Filed)
.Joyce 11"111, Co-Chair, 'Foroilto Chal)tcr of Fair Vote Catiada (Stihmission Filed)
Gerry Hobdeii, Co-Chair, T'orotilo ChaluerofFair Vote Cariada (SLibriiission Filed)
Miroslav Glavic
.lino Rootham (StIhmissioll Filed)
hiric Macdoliald (Submissioll Filed)
Ryan Endoll' 'Foronto Yol'Ith Cahiiiet (Stibmission Filed)
Desn'loild Cole
Dave MesIM, RaAcd Ballot hiitiative ofl'orojito
Cotincillorhmet Davis
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Ministry of Minist6re des
Municipal Affairs Affalres municipales
and Housing et du Logement
Office of the Minister Bureau du ministre
Ontario
777 Bay Street, 17'h Floor 777, rue Bay, W 6tage
Toronto ON M5G 2E5 Toronto ON M5(3 2E5
Tel. 416-585-7000 T61. 416-585-7000
Fax 416-585-6470 T616c. 416-585-6470
www.ontario.ca/MAH www.ontario.ca/MAH
13-60626
AUG 13 a 13
Ms. Ulli Watkiss
City Clerl<
City of Toronto
100 Queen Street West
Toronto ON M51-1 2N2
Dear Ms. Watkiss:
Thank you for your recent correspondence forwarding to me City Council's resolutions
regarding amendments to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
The Ministry reviews the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 following each municipal election, and
welcomes the input of municipal councils as well as members of the public. As the 2014
municipal election cycle is set to begin on January 1, 2014, there is insufficient time to consider
the City's requests for the 2014 election.
Please be assured that the City's resolutions will be considered prior to the 2018 election.
Once again, thank you for sharing this matter with me. Please accept my best wishes.
Sincerely,
Linda Jeffrey
Minister
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