Toronto — Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his government’s plan to eliminate fixed election dates, calling the current law a “fake law” introduced by the former Liberal government nearly two decades ago.
Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, Ford said the rule — enacted under former premier Dalton McGuinty — is unnecessary and limits flexibility. “As far as I’m concerned, this is a fake law put in by the Liberal government,” Ford said. “Just because the last government that messed up our province decided to do this doesn’t mean it has to be done.”
The proposal was introduced Monday by Attorney General Doug Downey, who said the change would “return Ontario to an electoral process that served the province well for nearly 150 years.” The government also plans to raise the political donation limit to $5,000 per year, up from $3,400, and to make public funding for political parties permanent.
If passed, the new rules would give the premier flexibility to call an election any time within the five-year constitutional limit, rather than adhering to the fixed four-year schedule. Ford said he would decide the next election timing based on what he feels is “appropriate,” whether after three, four, or five years.
Ontario’s fixed election date law, passed in 2004, was meant to provide predictability and transparency by scheduling provincial elections every four years. But governments could still legally call elections early — as Ford did earlier this year, citing a need for a new mandate to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
Opposition leaders blasted the proposed changes. NDP Leader Marit Stiles accused Ford of “trying to extend his stay in power for as long as possible,” warning that raising donation limits would worsen what she called Ontario’s “pay-to-play” political culture.
“What the premier is doing is providing more opportunities for friends, insiders, and the wealthiest people to influence his decisions,” Stiles said. “They’re slapping a big ‘For Sale’ sign on democracy.”
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner echoed those concerns, arguing that the higher donation cap would mainly benefit “wealthy, well-connected insiders” while leaving most Ontarians excluded from political influence.
The Progressive Conservatives have denied any link between political donations and government funding decisions, including those made through the province’s Skills Development Fund, which was recently criticized by the auditor general for lacking transparency.
If the bill passes, Ontario’s next election could be called at any time between now and 2030 — marking a return to the pre-2004 system, where premiers had full discretion over election timing.