Consensus Ontario Explained

Consensus Ontario
Subheader:Registered provincial party
Leader:Ron Patava
President:Ron Patava
Headquarters:64 Jersey LaneHalton Hills ON L7G 0G9 [1]
Position:Centre
Colorcode:
  1. 00BAF2
Blank1 Title:Fiscal policy
Blank2 Title:Social policy
Seats1 Title:Seats in the House of Commons
Seats2 Title:Seats in the Senate
Seats3 Title:Seats in Legislature
Country:Canada
State:Ontario
Parties Dab1:List of political parties in Ontario
Elections Dab1:List of Ontario general elections

Consensus Ontario is a minor political party in Ontario, Canada. The party is led by Ron Patava.[1]

History

Consensus Ontario was founded in 2016 as a think tank.[2] [3] Its original leader, Brad Harness, was the leader of the Reform Party of Ontario and founder of the Ontario Party of Canada, two smaller populist parties in the early 2000s. In preparation for the 2018 Ontario general election, the think tank registered as an official political party with Elections Ontario and fielded ten candidates for the election. The party de-registered after the 2018 election, but re-registered on May 11, 2022.[4]

In 2024, Ron Patava took over as leader from Brad Harness.[1]

Platform

The party has detailed several priority issues on its website; these include:[5]

  1. Introducing a single flat rate for electricity
  2. Reducing wait-times at health centres
  3. Building a long-term policy for rural and agricultural regions in Ontario
  4. Supporting immigration resettlement to rural areas
  5. Giving more autonomy to municipalities for planning and taxation
  6. Increased long-term care funding for seniors
  7. Overhauling the Ontario school curriculum, including the sexual education program
  8. Construction of high-speed rail in the province
  9. Turning the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway into provincial highways

Consensus Ontario's keystone policy is the removal of all political parties provincially and moving toward a non-partisan Consensus democracy.[6] [7] Consensus democracy, used in the northern territorial governments of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, members of the legislature would not be bound by party discipline to choose a leader, speaker, or policy position.[8] The party also supports several other areas of democratic reform, including recall elections and referendums.[9]

The party also pays special attention to the provincial debt. One of Consensus Ontario's founding principles calls for a balanced budget.[9] The party hopes to balance the provincial budget within its first term in government, hoping to find 10% savings for taxpayers.[10]

Election results

Including party leader Harness, Consensus Ontario nominated 10 candidates for the 2018 Ontario general election.In total, the party got 2,682 votes finishing 9th among 28 parties.

+ Election results
RidingCandidate's nameNotesVotes[11] %Rank
Humber River—Black CreekScott Aitchison3201.03 6/7
BurlingtonPeter Rusin1540.247/7
Perth—WellingtonPaul McKendrick3200.686/8
Kitchener—ConestogaDan Holt2120.496/6
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—BrockChuck MacMillan3120.557/7
Dufferin—CaledonStephen McKendrick3010.496/7
SudburyMila Chavez Wong2840.795/8
London WestBrad Harness3040.526/8
Bruce—Grey—Owen SoundJanice Kaikkonen2610.537/8
Nickel BeltKevin Brault2140.597/8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Registered Political Parties in Ontario. www.elections.on.ca. Elections Ontario. en. 2018-05-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005627/https://www.elections.on.ca/en/political-entities-in-ontario/political-parties/registered-political-parties-in-ontario.html. 2018-11-26. dead.
  2. Web site: Party Governance. Consensus Ontario. 22 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180522231919/http://www.consensusontario.ca/party-governance. 22 May 2018. dead.
  3. News: Hillman-Rapley. Lynda. Strathroy man behind new political party. 23 May 2018. Sarnia Observer. Postmedia. en-CA.
  4. Web site: Registered Political Parties . . 23 July 2023.
  5. Web site: Our 2018 Election Platform. Consensus Ontario. 22 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180522231918/http://www.consensusontario.ca/our-2018-election-platform. 22 May 2018. dead.
  6. News: Brown. Dan. Consensus Ontario wants to end party politics for good. 23 May 2018. The London Free Press. 19 May 2018.
  7. News: Nixon. Scott. Area publisher launches new political party. 23 May 2018. Exeter Times-Advocate. 22 March 2017. en-CA.
  8. Web site: How Consensus Government Would Work. Consensus Ontario. 22 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Our Principles. Consensus Ontario. 22 May 2018.
  10. Web site: Policy Discussions. Consensus Ontario. 22 May 2018.
  11. Web site: Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate . Elections Ontario . 27 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181228175029/https://www.elections.on.ca/content/dam/NGW/sitecontent/2018/results/officialresults-yellowbook/votescastbycandidate/pdf/Valid%20Votes%20Cast%20for%20Each%20Candidate%20-%202018%20Provincial%20General%20Election.pdf . 28 December 2018 . dead .