At least in theory, parties have no place in munincipal politics. In practice, that is not necessarily true. For example, in Toronto, the NDP has organized hard to elect their chosen candidates (including the current Mayor).
Should parties play a formal and public role in municipal elections?
Here are two points of view:
1. Pro-Party In Municipal Politics
“In Toronto, there already is a party system but it is covert. The NDP already supports a number of councilors (Giambrone, Moscoe, Rae, Bussin Saundercook, De Bearemaker, etc.) plus the mayor.
The problem with this is two-fold:
– the non-ndp-supported candidates are at a disadvantage in a similar way that independent candidates for MP and MPP are for federal and provincial elections
– there is no transparency for the voters into which candidates are supported by the ndp
To say to system works fine as it is though is laughable. The low voter turnout is a direct consequence of a broken system.”
2. Against Parties In Municipal Politics
“Politics in this country dictate that you vote for your representitive; the person you feel best represents your interests irrespective of party.
Too many people in Canada get caught up in the partisan aspects of this and DON’T vote for the person they feel best represents their interests, rather they vote for the party that best represents their national interests.
Municipal politics has been saved from this, and it is silly to suggest that we now go with the party system. Peraonally I think politics would be much more transparent and would function better if me had no political parties at any level.”
Check this out:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/war-of-words-erupts-within-ontario-tory-caucus/article1242239/
http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1394198&sid=2321387b45f3bf6c07dc8db8eb613327
“So much for party unity.
Just a few weeks after being named leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, Tim Hudak has a caucus spat on his hands.
Outspoken Tory Bill Murdoch is slamming his colleague Norm Sterling for suggesting that municipal politics should have a party structure.
Mr. Sterling’s comments were published in an Ottawa newspaper a week ago.
Mr. Murdoch, who now serves as the party’s rural and northern affairs critic, says he completely disagrees with Sterling and that municipal politicians should remain non-partisan.
The feisty Tory was booted from caucus last fall for suggesting that then-leader John Tory find another job, but returned to the fold in April after Mr. Tory resigned.”
