Democracy is the idea that the source of a governent's authority is the governed. Elections are a defence of democracy. For that reason, elections require trust, transparency, and the equal participation of all citizens. However, Doug Ford has called a $175,000,000.00 snap election that violates a 20 year old quasi constitutional law that was adopted to remedy an old, anti-democratic practice of governing parties.

For decades, Ontario operated under a system where elections could be called at the whim of the premier, often leading to years of one-party dominance. The Progressive Conservatives held power almost continuously from 1943 to 1985, largely due to this advantageous electoral timing prerogative. The arrogance and misuse of power by some premiers, like Progressive Conservative Ernie Eves - who evaded the legislature by delivering the 1993 budget in a private setting - underscored the need for reform.

In 2004, new legislation was introduced to give Ontarians a new democratic right: fixed election dates.  The Election Statute Law Amendment Act, 2004, established that general elections in Ontario would be held on the first Thursday of October every four years (later adjusted to June, to avoid conflicts with federal elections). This law was not merely cosmetic. It was the creation of a new right, held by every voter in Ontario. Then-premier Dalton McGuinty explained the nature of the new right:

"Never again will a governing party be able to manipulate the date of an election to serve its own interests...Never again will a Premier have the ability to set election dates when it is politically opportune for the government. I, as Premier, am forever renouncing this right."

The law was adopted in December of 2005, and it remains law today. It preserves the Parliamentary power of the Lieutenant Governor General to dissolve Parliament when there is a vote of no-confidence, or when a money bill fails to pass. But it otherwise requires that: "general elections shall be held on the first Thursday in June in the fourth calendar year following polling day in the most recent general election."

The right to fixed election dates ensures that everyone - including Elections Ontario and millions of Ontario voters - can plan for elections, engage in political discourse, and participate without the cheat of a snap election call. It prevents the manipulation of election timing for political gain, ensuring governance focuses on public service rather than electoral strategy.

Until 2025, Ontario's premiers respect and complied with the fixed election date law. They never violated the democratic right Ontarians have held for two decades. Until January 28, 2025, Ontario's next election was scheduled to occur in June of 2026.

However, on January 28, 2025, Doug Ford violated the democratic right to fixed election dates, and called a snap election for February 27th. His violation undermines the spirit of the fixed election law and sets a dangerous precedent for other premiers to disregard democratic rights, and return to the era where snap elections could be timed to keep a governing party in power, and prevent change by giving the governing party an anti-democratic head-start.

A Freedom government:

• will not support or entertain any notion of moving away from the fixed election schedule.
  
  
• will actively educate the public about the importance of fixed election dates and advocate against any attempts to bypass this democratic safeguard.
  
  
• will introduce legislation that further entrenches fixed elections and makes it clear that a Premier has no authority to call a snap election.

The right to fixed election dates is not just a policy. It is a sacred trust that defends democracy in Ontario. Freedom Party vows to protect this right, ensuring that future elections remain a democratic exercise of the people, by the people, for the people.