Ontario Proposes Extension of Political Party Subsidy

The Ontario government has proposed amendments to the Election Finances Act to extend the per-vote subsidy for political parties. This proposal, supported by all parties in the legislature, aims to continue the quarterly allowances to registered political parties and constituency associations until December 31, 2026. These payments, originally set to expire at the end of 2024, are calculated based on the number of valid votes a party's candidates received in the previous general election. The subsidy rate is set at $0.636 per vote.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Ontario is responsible for determining the allowance for each quarter. A party is eligible if its candidates received at least two percent of the valid votes cast in the last election or five percent in the districts where they endorsed a candidate. This extension follows a recommendation from Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer after the 2022 provincial election to maintain a balance between public and private funding.