RE: Resolution Passed by Woolwich Township Council – Election Advocacy and Preparation
This letter is to inform you that the Council of the Township of Woolwich passed the following resolution at their meeting held on January 14, 2025:
That the Council of the Township of Woolwich, considering Report C02-2025 respecting Election 2026 Report 1 – Election Advocacy and Preparation:
- Endorse the resolutions from municipalities across Ontario including that from the Township of Terrace Bay calling on the Province of Ontario to update the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 with priority amendments as outlined by AMCTO before the summer of 2025 and commence work to review and re-write the MEA with longer-term recommendations ahead of the 2030 elections; and
- Forward this resolution to all municipalities in Ontario, the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Public Business Service Delivery, Ministry of Finance, our local Minster of Provincial Parliament (MPP), the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO).
Township of Terrace Bay Resolution:
WHEREAS elections rules need to be clear, supporting candidates and voters in their electoral participation and election administrators in running elections;
AND WHEREAS legislation needs to strike the right balance between providing clear rules and frameworks to ensure the integrity of the electoral process;
AND WHEREAS the legislation must also reduce administrative and operational burden for municipal staff ensuring that local election administrators can run elections in a way that responds to the unique circumstances of their local communities;
AND WHEREAS the Municipal Elections Act 1996 (MEA) will be 30 years old by the next municipal and school bard elections in 2026;
AND WHEREAS the MEA sets out the rules for local elections, the Assessment Act 1990 and the Education Act, 1990 also contain provisions impacting local elections adding more places for voters, candidates, and administrators to look for the rules that bind the local democratic process in Ontario;
AND WHEREAS the Act can pose difficulties for voters, candidates, contributors and third-party advertisers to read, to interpret, to comply with and for election administrators to enforce;
AND WHEREAS while local elections are run as efficiently and effectively as can be within the current legislative framework, modernization and continuous improvement is needed to ensure the Act is responsive to today's needs and tomorrow's challenges;
AND WHEREAS to keep public trust and improve safeguards the Act should be reviewed considering the ever-changing landscape with impacts elections administration including privacy, the threats of foreign interference, increased spread of mis-disinformation and the increased use of technologies like artificial intelligence and use of digital identities;
AND WHEREAS the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) reviewed the Act and has provided several recommendations including modernizating the legislation, harmonizing rules, and streamlining and simplifying administration;
AND WHEREAS AMCTO put forward recommendations for amendments ahead of the 2026 elections and longer-term recommendation for amendments ahead of the 2030 elections;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council for the Township of Terrace Bay calls for the
Province to update the MEA with priority amendments as outlined by AMCTO before Summer 2025 and commence work to review and re-write the MEA with longer-term recommendations ahead of the 2030 elections;
AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be forwarded to all municipalities in Ontario for support that each endorsement be then forwarded to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Public Business Service Delivery, Ministry of Finance, the Premier of Ontario, Thunder Bay MPP's, AMO and AMCTO.
Should you have any questions, please contact Tanya Bettridge, by email at tbettridge@woolwich.ca or by phone at 519-669-6004.
Yours truly,
Jeff Smith, Municipal Clerk
Corporate Services
Township of Woolwich