In most of Canada, municipal voters are not political party animals. How did that happen?
In Canada, municipal elections are predominantly non-partisan, with candidates running as independents rather than representatives of political parties. This trend has historical roots, as many municipalities shifted to ward elections and smaller councils, making party affiliation less necessary. Voter preferences also play a significant role, as many Canadians express a dislike for municipal party politics, leading candidates to adopt a non-partisan approach.
- ▪Municipal election candidates in Canada typically run as independents rather than party representatives.
- ▪The shift to ward elections and smaller councils has contributed to the decline of partisan politics at the municipal level.
- ▪Voter aversion to municipal party politics has influenced candidates to avoid party affiliations.
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ShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountJack Lucas is a professor of political science at the University of Calgary and co-director of the Canadian Municipal Barometer.Later this year, thousands of municipal election candidates will seek office across Ontario. These candidates will differ in countless ways: their policy priorities, their past experience, their rhetorical styles, and much more. In one respect, however, every one of these candidates will be identical: every candidate, from Chatsworth to Chatham, Kenora to Kincardine, will run not as a representative of a political party, but as an independent. If past experience is any guide, almost no one will mention how weird this is.
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