Bill 163 2014

An Act to amend the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 to allow the City of Toronto to adopt an alternative voting system

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

   1.  The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 is amended by adding the following section:

City of Toronto - Alternative Voting System

City of Toronto by-law re alternative voting system

   45.1  (1)  The council of the City of Toronto may pass a by-law adopting an alternative voting system for the election of a member of city council, including the mayor, and establishing rules with respect to the voting procedure and counting of votes under the alternative voting system.

Application of by-law

   (2)  A by-law passed under subsection (1) applies to an election as specified in the by-law.

Conflict

   (3)  A by-law made under subsection (1) prevails over the prescribed provisions of this Act and the prescribed provisions of the regulations made under this Act.

   2.  Subsection 95 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(c.0.1) if the council of the City of Toronto has passed a by-law under subsection 45.1 (1),

           (i)  provide for transitional matters that, in the opinion of the Minister, are necessary or desirable to implement an alternative voting system adopted by the City of Toronto,

          (ii)  govern, clarify or vary the application of provisions of this Act or provisions of the regulations made under this Act in respect of an alternative voting system adopted by the City of Toronto,

         (iii)  prescribe, for the purpose of subsection 45.1 (3), provisions of this Act and provisions of the regulations made under this Act;

Commencement

   3.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   4.  The short title of this Act is the City of Toronto Alternative Voting System Act, 2014.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 to authorize the City of Toronto to pass a by-law adopting an alternative voting system for the election of members of city council, including the mayor.