About a month ago, Premier Dalton McGuinty’s government announced that Ontario’s first “fixed” election date was not so fixed after all. The set date of Oct. 4, 2007, was to be postponed to Oct. 10, 2007, because of a conflict with the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret. Most of the criticism following this move centred on McGuinty being unable to deliver on another of his campaign promises. The government countered that the change was made so as to avoid disrespecting any religion and to find a date when the greatest number of people would be able to vote.
As it turns out, McGuinty was acting within the law when he postponed the election. Bill 214, the Election Statute Law Amendment Act in effect since 2005, states that “a general election shall be held on the first Thursday in October in the fourth calendar year following polling day in the most recent general election.” However, it also adds, “If the Chief Election Officer is of the opinion that a Thursday that would otherwise be polling day is not suitable for that purpose because it is a day of cultural or religious significance, the Chief Election Officer shall choose another day.” The Act specifies that this alternate date shall be one of seven days following the Thursday that would have otherwise been polling day.
The election date is flexible precisely because of considerations of religion and culture in politics. Yet, amid all the criticisms of McGuinty’s postponement, no one has questioned the role of religion in governmental affairs. This is puzzling because while our society respects all religions and promotes diversity, we are nonetheless a secular nation in which government and religion are supposed to be two separate entities. Why then does the Election Act have a clause that allows religious considerations to influence government policy?
In this case, the Liberal government is using religion as a cheap vote-grabbing strategy. By taking measures to not inconvenience Orthodox Jews and Muslims, for whom Eid-Al-Fitr will likely fall on October 11, the Liberals hope to garner support from these groups in what looks to be a close race. This use of religion within the political process diminishes the value of Ontario’s democracy.
Recall the last federal election, where former-Prime Minister Paul Martin used Justice Gomery’s report as a guide to determining the election date, and therefore influenced the outcome of the election. Bill 214 was introduced in part to ensure that an election date would be called irrespective of the most opportune time for the premier to do so. Fixed election dates are in the greater public interest because they prevent governments from attempting to win political favour by changing the dates to accommodate religious groups. For once, the American democratic system can actually be seen as fair, because its election dates are truly fixed.
The McGuinty government should have taken a no-variance stance on this matter. After all, advanced polling would allow those prevented from voting on the fixed election date due to religious reasons to still cast their ballots and make their votes count. The infrastructure already exists to avoid this unnecessary clash of politics and religion. Instead of political theatrics and underhanded strategies, political parties should be more concerned with making the system as fair and impartial as possible.
