Item - 2009.EX37.1

City Council on December 2, 2009, adopted the following:

1.         City Council authorize the dates and times for the 2010 election advance votes as follows:

a.         If Bill 212 is not enacted by the Ontario Legislature:

i.          Weekdays from Wednesday, October 20, 2010 to Friday, October 22, 2010 inclusive and Monday, October 25, 2010 to Wednesday, October 27, 2010, inclusive from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;

ii.         Saturday, October 30, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and

iii.        Sunday, October 31, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

b.         If Bill 212 is enacted by the Ontario Legislature:

i.          Weekdays from Tuesday, October 5, 2010 to Friday, October 8, 2010 inclusive and Tuesday, October 12, 2010 to Wednesday, October 13, 2010, inclusive from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;

ii.         Saturday, October 16, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and

iii.        Sunday, October 17, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

c.         The City Solicitor be authorized to submit the appropriate bill once any amendments have been made to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 by Bill 212.

2.         City Council authorize elector information to be made available during regular municipal elections and by-elections in those languages which the most recent available Statistics Canada data shows was spoken and understood in the home by at least 2 percent of a ward’s population, substantially in the form of the draft bill attached as Appendix ‘C’ to the report (November 16, 2009) from the City Clerk, and further, the City Clerk be requested to provide information in the languages identified by the process described in Appendix C.

3.         City Council direct that voting places shall open at 10:00 a.m. on voting day.

4.         City Council direct that institutional voting places, as described in subsection 46(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, be open for the full voting day.

5.         City Council direct the City Clerk to request the Province of Ontario to amend the Municipal Elections Act to permit the City of Toronto to extend voting hours to ensure that voting places are open for a minimum of 10 hours and are fully operational during that time.

6.         If Bill 212 is enacted by the Ontario Legislature, City Council request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to consider the following:

            a.         poll clerks require photo identification from a voter when there is reasonable doubt about the identity of the elector; and

            b.         where it is necessary to administer an Oath, photo identification be required.

7.         City Council request the City Clerk to ensure that the intended location of polling stations be made public at least six months prior to the election date and establish a process that would allow for revisions to be made in polling station locations that are shown to be problematic.

8.         City Council request the City Clerk and the City Manager to report to the Executive Committee for its meeting on February 1, 2010, on:

              a.       the feasibility and costs of providing transportation for electors with disabilities to the voting places if disabled accessibility cannot be achieved within a local voting area; and

              b.       the feasibility and potential costs for including in the Election householder, the translation of basic election information in languages that are spoken by a minimum of 2 percent of the population, by ward, according to the most recent Statistics Canada data.

9.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto, including the introduction of any bills.