The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members (MPPs) of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular vote. The election set a record for the lowest voter turnout in an Ontario provincial election; only 52.8% people who were eligible voted. This broke the previous record of 54.7% in the 1923 election.
As a result of legislation passed by the Legislature in 2004, election dates are now fixed by formula so that an election is held approximately four years after the previous election, unless the government is defeated by a vote of "no confidence" in the Legislature. Previously, the governing party had considerable flexibility to determine the date of an election anywhere up to five years of being elected. The date of this election was originally presumed to be October 4, 2007, however the law fixes the date on the first Thursday of October or on any day within seven days thereof if required to accommodate a date of "religious or cultural significance". The date was set as October 10, 2007 to avoid a conflict with the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, which fell on October 4, 2007.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, had won the endorsement of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) in the last October 10 provincial election. The endorsement was adopted unanimously by approximately 150 delegates gathered in Kingston, Ontario, for the OPFFA’s Annual Convention. IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger greeted a jubilant McGuinty following the resolution’s adoption. The endorsement states that the OPFFA “demonstrates its support for Premier McGuinty’s leadership on matters affecting Ontario’s professional fire fighters and their families through the official endorsement of the Honorable Dalton McGuinty as the premier for the Province of Ontario.”
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If you are interested to learn more about the election practices, check out the linkings below:
Corrupt Practices and Other Offences: Penalties and Enforcement
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90e06_e.htm#BK179
Bribery
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90e06_e.htm#BK187
Corrupt practice, effect of conviction
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90e06_e.htm#BK190
References:
Election Act
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER E.6
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90e06_e.htm
