In the News May 31

Ontario Election 2022

Registered Third Parties in Current Election

There are 60 “third parties” registered in the 2022 Ontario Provincial Election, compared to 59 in the 2018 election. In the 2014 general election, there were only 37. Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer attributes the increase in 2018 to the electoral law amendments that introduced registration and spending limits for the six-month “pre-election” period, in addition to expanding the definition of political advertising to include “issue-based” materials.

This resulted in previously unregulated political activities being captured by the election law. This is reflected in the amount of money spent during what is called “the pre-election period.”

A “third party” is an organization or collective that seeks to participate in the election. The government and cartel party system says third parties must be subject to spending limits to make sure they cannot exercise undue influence. The electoral law in fact provides the cartel parties with all the electoral media coverage, keeping small parties and most independent candidates as isolated as possible and leaving the electorate out altogether with the exception of a sound bite here and there to corroborate the views imposed by official circles of what the election issues are.

Trade unions from both the public and private sector that have registered in this election, include the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), the United Steelworkers (USW), and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The largest number of those who have registered are unions and associations representing teachers and health care workers.

Some registered third parties are addressing specific concerns, such as the Ontario Autism Coalition and Children’s Mental Health Ontario.

The impact of government deregulation on the environment at the provincial level is also a significant concern at this time. A number of those who have registered encompass concerns about the environment such as Seniors for Climate Action Now! and the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition.

Business interests have also registered, including the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses of Canada and the Ontario Home Builders Association.

To view the full list of registered third parties on the Elections Ontario website, click here.

Ontario Political Forum, posted May 31, 2022.