Bill 166, Toronto Ranked Ballot Elections Act, 2014

Bill 166 2014

An Act to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to allow the City of Toronto to pass a ranked ballot by-law for city council elections

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

   1.  Section 8 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 is amended by adding the following subsections:

Ranked ballot by-law

   (2.1)  The City may pass a by-law that adopts a ranked ballot voting system for the election of members of city council and establishes the procedure for the ranked ballot election.

Ranked ballot by-law public consultation requirements

   (2.2)  Before city council votes on whether to pass, amend, revise or repeal a by-law made under subsection (2.1), the city council shall consult the public in accordance with any prescribed public consultation requirements.

Ranked ballot by-law requires approval

   (2.3)  No by-law made under subsection (2.1), and no amendment to, revision of or repeal of such a by-law, has any force or effect until it is approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

   2.  Section 11 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Ranked ballot by-law prevails

   (3)  Despite subsections (1) and (2), a by-law made under subsection 8 (2.1) and approved under subsection 8 (2.3) prevails over and may modify the application of any provision of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or of any regulation made under that Act.

   3.  Subsection 152 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

   (k)  prescribing public consultation requirements for the purposes of subsection 8 (2.2).

Commencement

   4.  This Act comes into force on January 1, 2015.

Short title

   5.  The short title of this Act is the Toronto Ranked Ballot Elections Act, 2014.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The City of Toronto Act, 2006 is amended to allow the City of Toronto to pass a by-law adopting a ranked ballot voting system for the election of members of city council. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe public consultation requirements that city council must meet before voting on a ranked ballot by-law. The by-law would only have force and effect if approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The by-law prevails over and may modify the application of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and its regulations.