Peggy Sattler MPP, London West

LONDON – MPPs Peggy Sattler (London West), Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre) and Teresa Armstrong (London—Fanshawe) have released a statement on Bill 218, the government’s legislation that attacks local democracy by scrapping municipalities’ right to hold ranked-ballot elections. The bill was passed Monday, with all government MPPs in the legislature voting to strip municipalities of their right to determine how to conduct their own elections:
 
“The Premier has launched an attack on local democracy with the support of his MPPs. No municipal leaders asked for ranked ballots to be scrapped. He wants to override the views of Ontarians and their local elected representatives by shamelessly trying to push through changes to election law that nobody wants, and are driven by his own political agenda.
 
We have opposed this undemocratic move, and urged the Premier to pull the plug on this measure that he snuck into a COVID-19 recovery bill. We introduced an amendment to make an exception for municipalities that had implemented ranked ballots, held successful referendums on ranked ballots, or passed a motion in support of ranked ballots; and even tried an amendment specifically to exempt London. Both were voted down by government MPPs.
  
Londoners know best and have the right to decide how their votes are counted. The Premier is using the pandemic as a cover to take away that right.
 
We aren’t giving up the fight, and we are fully committed to repealing this legislation immediately in 2022.”