We need your help in getting the Ford Government’s attention on an important advocacy issue.
Earlier this year, we submitted our recommendations for updating the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) ahead of the 2026 municipal and school board elections. We recommended to the ministry that updates should be made by Spring 2025 at the latest. We also provided our members with a toolkit including a template council resolution to seek support from councils on this item.
To date, we have received only two council resolutions calling for the MEA to be updated since the release of our recommendations in April. More voices are needed to gain the Government’s attention and drive them to action. Awareness of municipal resolutions will help us strengthen the case that municipalities agree on the need for change.
Call to Action
We are calling on our members to discuss with your mayors and councils how critical updates to the MEA are to the health of democracy and to your ability to support candidates and voters at election time.
- We need updates to align with federal legislation on foreign interference.
- We need privacy protection for contributors and voters.
- We need to make it easier for people to vote and for candidates to understand election rules.
Download our Template Council Resolution
Encourage your councils to pass council resolutions and your mayors to write letters of support!
We also need you to take specific action. As members and senior municipal leaders, your voices are key in conveying to Minister Calandra and the Government that:
- Making recommended changes to the MEA would strengthen local democracy;
- Reducing administrative burdens would allow municipal staff to be more efficient and effective at delivering local elections; and
- An amended MEA would provide much-needed time to effectively manage other tasks that support planning and development processes, municipal governance, and service innovation in support of provincial priorities.
Download a copy of our template letter above to personally communicate your support for our advocacy efforts on the MEA – each letter can be tailored to include your specific local examples that further illustrate the need for change.
We will be continuing to push for legislative and regulatory changes to this fundamental Act, including speaking to our recommendations in delegation meetings at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference next week, and showcasing strength in numbers among our over 2,200 members will help demonstrate that the Province must take action.
Let’s work together to make this happen!
For more information or to speak with our Policy and Government Relations team, please contact us.