A real sham

Income tax cuts for most Ontarians. A host of tax credits on everything from home heating costs to child benefits to property tax relief for hundreds of thousands of seniors. More spaces for university students, more aid for children with autism, and new programs to help families stay healthy while saving money.
Boy, you’d think there was a provincial election in the offing.
Oh, wait a minute, there is one coming up—on Thursday, Oct. 6 to be exact.
When Ontario jumped on the bandwagon for fixed election dates, which happened for the first time in this province back in October, 2007, the main rationale was that no longer would sitting governments be able to call an election when it suited them best. They couldn’t try to get back in for another term while riding high in the polls or before the economy tanked­, or, similarly, avoid a campaign until times were rosier.
Ultimately, the idea of fixed election dates was to strengthen our electoral system by stemming the deepening voter cynicism that threatens the future of our democratic institutions.
A noble goal, sure, but is it working? If anything, voters will be just as cynical seeing the McGuinty government—suddenly flush with cash—dishing out funds, rebates, and credits to every conceivable constituent and special interest that just happens to coincide with an election year. How convenient.
Clearly, having a fixed election date isn’t stopping governments from trying to buy voters with their own money.
Fixed election dates also lock parties into campaign mode well in advance of the actual vote—and outside the spending rules and other restrictions in effect during the “official” campaign period.
Not only that, it means having to watch politicians bash each other for 10 or 11 months, or perhaps longer, not just five or six weeks. Talk about another sure turn-off for voters already disillusioned with the whole process.
Fixed election dates are nothing more than a hollow sham. Getting voters more engaged in choosing their leaders, whether provincially or federally, takes much more than simply knowing four years in advance when the next election will be held.