ONTARIO - The riding survey work began in May 2016.  The survey includes asking random, ordinary voters - who live in the riding - which of the province’s 43 responsibilities they care about. In this way, the surveyor is able to rank the voter’s priorities. The survey takes about 10-15 minutes and the goal is to produce a ranked list of the Top 15 priorities for that voter in that riding.

Additional voters in the same riding are surveyed, of course, and then a Riding Priority List is compiled. That riding list is then used later by the party to craft its province-wide Provincial Priorities List, which compiles  the riding priorities lists from the other ridings in Ontario.

This survey work is an annual event for Consensus Ontario, and is considered vital, as it is at the very heart of true representation, ensuring government does those things voters care about and really want done.

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ONTARIO - The Provincial Priorities List created through the riding by riding surveys each year is an important tool for Consensus Ontario. It is what determines where party and candidate/MPP’s efforts must be focused.  The Riding Priority List is what determines how a Consensus Ontario MPP will vote on each issue - truly representing the majority view in their riding.

As it is an annual survey, it is fully expected that the priorities of Ontario voters may - and likely will - change over time. That is why it is done each year, to ensure we are plugged into what is important to Ontarians. Parties that are out of step with voters can expect to be judged harshly at election time...and rightly so!

Government exists to do those things with voters cannot efficiently and economically do for themselves. That does not mean doing everything for voters, but rather, just certain specific things where government could do it better and more cost-effectively.  Hence, the survey work to identify those priorities people want their provincial government to be involved with.

Once those priorities are identified, then it is time to create the policies which Consensus Ontario believes are the best way to implement each priority and make it a reality for voters.  Party riding delegates form working groups that are tasked with developing detailed policy for each priority identified by you, the voter.

Based on the initial riding survey work, priorities for voters so far seem to focus on the expected issues of electricity, health care, education, transportation, and housing. Policies to address these priorities will  include a standardized electricity rate in lieu of time of day charges; an increase in preventative health care to reduce health care costs in the mid- to long-term; a revision of the school curriculum to focus on identified short-comings, a back-to-basics curriculum, and a breaking up of large school boards; an emphasis on ways to improve highway traffic and safety and improve the commuter experience - including transit systems and high-speed rail for both passengers and freight; and measures to make housing more affordable to both middle and low-income Ontarians.