Item - 2017.EX27.3

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize a contribution rebate program for the 2018 municipal election and:

a.  pass a by-law substantially in the form of the draft bill in Attachment 1 to the report (September 11, 2017) from the City Clerk;

b.  maintain funding from the non-program account to the Election Reserve Fund XR1017, at $1.2 million per annum beginning in 2018, to pay for the program; and

c.  direct that any election campaign surplus funds that become the property of the City according to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 be deposited into the Election Reserve Fund XR1017, in accordance with section 12 of the draft bill, in Attachment 1 to the report (September 11, 2017) from the City Clerk. 

2.  City Council authorize the City Clerk to negotiate and enter into an agreement with Election Systems and Software Inc. ("ES&S") on the terms and conditions satisfactory to the City Clerk and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor for the maintenance and support of the City's vote counting equipment and the supply of their associated goods and services, in the amount of up to $1,607,000 net of HST and $1,635,283.20 net of HST recoveries, for a period of four years from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021.

3.  City Council repeal the following two by-laws because they are redundant given the recently amended Municipal Elections Act, 1996:

a.  City of Toronto By-law 1177-2009, which prohibits all corporate and trade union contributions to candidates seeking office to Toronto City Council, because the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 now prohibits corporations and trade unions from contributing to candidates for office on City Council.

b.  City of Toronto By-law 1178-2009, which authorizes the electronic filing of financial statements, because the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 now authorizes the City Clerk to provide for electronic filing and to establish corresponding conditions and limits with respect to electronic filing.

The 2018 municipal election will take place on October 22, 2018.  This report seeks City Council's authorization on matters within its jurisdiction relating to the upcoming municipal election, including (1) whether to authorize a contribution rebate program; (2) authorize the City Clerk to enter into an agreement with Election Systems and Software Inc. ("ES&S") for the maintenance and support of the City's vote counting equipment for a period of four years; and (3) repeal two election-related by-laws that are no longer required due to recent changes to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 ("MEA").  This report also recommends that City Council continue with the tied-vote recount threshold outlined in the Municipal Elections Act and not adopt a separate recount policy.