About Government

Overview

The Democratic Renewal Secretariat was announced by Premier Dalton McGuinty on October 23, 2003. The Secretariat's mandate is to modernize our democratic institutions to more fully reflect 21st Century realities.

Major Responsibilities

The Secretariat will reach out to Ontarians and engage them in the most ambitious democratic renewal process in Ontario's history. It is working towards:

• Ensuring that more people, particularly young people, vote during elections, get engaged in their communities, and participate in the political process;
   
• Having an open debate on improvements to our electoral process, leading to a referendum on electoral reform;
   
• Engaging a Citizens' Jury to make recommendations on how we fund political campaigns so that money has less influence on politics;
   
• Encouraging more transparency and openness in how and where tax dollars are spent by ensuring that the public interest, rather than private interests, are front and centre in decisions; and
   
• Developing legislation for fixed election dates in Ontario.