New ideas for your Ontario!

  Elections would be held on a fixed date every 4 years, with elections triggered on schedule by the Lieutenant Governor. The Premier of Ontario would be elected in a province wide popular vote election by all Ontario voters rather than by a single political party leadership convention. 

  At the same time Ontario voters would elect their Members of a Provincial Parliament (MPP’s) through a proportional ranked choice voting system. You would have a ranked ballot, and you would select your first choice, your second and third and so on down the ballot. The MPP’s elected are  accountable to their constituents rather than a single political party leader. 

   Once the election is over the first order of business by the MPP’s is the election from amongst themselves of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers by secret ballot. This reflects the importance of the Speaker, who presides over the Legislature as a whole and enforces the rules. 

  The next order of business would be to select Cabinet ministers by secret ballot from all of the MPPs present. No longer would the Premier select or remove ministers. Consensus Government in Ontario is intended to take away power from the Premier and restore it to the MPPs in the Legislature - who represent all the people of Ontario. 

  A Consensus Ontario government still requires majority support from MPP’s for measures it proposes. MPP’s will be able to vote freely on all matters with no “party whips” required. The  Premier and their Ministers are required to be consistently accountable and responsible for MPP's concerns as they work through the legislative and budget processes.

  As business begins, the Government will prepare its plans and estimates for the next year.  MPPs will - through promoting the priorities of their constituents - discuss wants and needs and a Consensus will develop, giving each minister directions for what the people of Ontario want them to focus on beyond normal ministry operations.

  When budgets, motions, and legislation come forward, all MPPs are sworn to represent the majority wishes in their ridings on each matter, issue by issue.  The Government - the Ministers and the Premier - do not have enough votes to push through anything without enough support from a majority of Opposition MPPs.  So they must focus on what the Consensus is, issue by issue, to get things approved.

  The Consensus Ontario system of government blends the principles of parliamentary democracy with maximum cooperation, effective use of leadership resources and common accountability from government officials to the people of Ontario. Overall, it will provide a stable and fair system of representation for Ontario's future.