Tuesday, October 9, 2007

OTTAWA - Today, Democracy Watch called on the leaders of the four main Ontario political parties to offer voters what they want, a meaningful guarantee that promises made will be promises kept, such as by pledging“I will resign if I break my promises” and pledging to pass an “honesty in politics” law.
 The leaders of the four main parties have made a total of 720 promises, as follows:

• Green Party - 174 promises
• Liberal Party - 206 promises
• NDP - 120 promises
• Progressive Conservative Party - 220 promises

Democracy Watch also criticized Elections Ontario for failing, yet again, to inform voters in its election promotion materials that “declining” your ballot is allowed under section 53 of the Elections Act.  This option allows voters to vote essentially for “none of the above” if they do not support any candidate or party in their riding.  Declined ballots are counted and reported separately from spoiled ballots.

“Elections Ontario has failed, yet again, to inform Ontario voters of their full voting rights, including the right to decline their ballot if they do not support any candidates or parties,” said Conacher.

The leaders’ promise-making was put on the spot in the election debate, as they faced a question from a voter (chosen from among questions submitted by voters).  In a remarkable display of misleading, all the leaders dodged giving any meaningful guarantee that they will keep their promises.

Democracy Watch will continue to push for the passage of an honesty-in-politics law that upholds the right of voters to an election promise guarantee, and to give voters a way to hold politicians, political staff, Cabinet appointees and government employees accountable for broken promises and dishonesty.