Fixed election dates nothing but a gimmick, dropping them is right

Doug Ford’s decision to do away with fixed election dates every four years isn’t a shocking move, it’s restoring Canadian tradition. It’s his other moves surrounding elections, such as doing away with third-party spending limits prior to elections and keeping per-vote subsidies for political parties that are shocking.

The constitution of Canada has long been clear, legislative sessions for the House of Commons or provincial legislatures are up to five years in length. It’s even spelled out in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Sec. 4, under Democratic Rights.

“No House of Commons and no legislative assembly shall continue for longer than five years from the date fixed for the return of the writs of a general election of its members,” the Charter states.

Of the 44 Parliaments that Ont