Ontario proposing changes to Election Finances Act
Nov. 12, 2024
Global Korean Post
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With the support of all parties in the legislature, the Ontario government is proposing amendments to the Election Finances Act that would, if passed, extend the payment of quarterly allowances to registered political parties and constituency associations for another two years.
These payments are currently scheduled to expire at the end of this year, on December 31, 2024. The proposed changes would extend the payments an additional two years, to December 31, 2026.
Under the Election Finances Act, the Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Ontario is responsible for determining, for each quarter of a calendar year, an allowance payable to a registered party whose candidates in the last election before the current quarter received at least:
- Two per cent of the number of valid votes cast; or
- Five per cent of the number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts in which the registered party endorsed a candidate.
These proposed changes also implement a recommendation from Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer, following the 2022 provincial election, to ensure a balance of public and private funding.
The allowance for political parties has been set at $0.636 per vote since 2021. The quarterly allowance amount is calculated by multiplying the rate by the number of valid votes a party’s candidates received in the previous general election.
The proposed amendments extend allowances through 2025 and 2026 and would remain constant at $0.636 per vote.
