2014 provincial election

An Ontario spring election was called for 12 June 2014 so the expected changes to the Condo Act were not introduced as a Bill at Queens Park.

It appears that we will have to wait, perhaps as long as another year, for a condo Bill to be introduced.

Was the new Condo Act a factor in this general election? Of course not. It got next to no attention what-so-ever.

The campaign issues
When the governing Liberals introduced their spring budget, the NDP joined the Conservatives in saying they would not support it. The minority Liberals, under a new leader, Kathleen Wynne, were forced to call an election.

Hudak's promise to cut 100,000 public sector jobs, the future of transit in the Greater Toronto Area, taxes and jobs were what the public and the politicians focused on. That and Mayor Rob Ford.

Results

Kathleen Wynne at a morning election rally

The Liberals won five new seats so they won a majority and are now free to set policy for the next four years without having to compromise with the third-place NDP.

The Conservatives took a beating, losing nine seats, and will have a leadership convention in the spring of 2015. They must decide what new direction they want to take their party as Hudak's right-wing platform was a dud.

The NDP, despite the Conservatives losses, remained in third place. They lost two Toronto ridings. Unfortunately Rosario Marchese lost his seat so Ontario's condo owners lost their Queens Park champion.

Were condo residents a factor?
The big question did the condo residents vote in large enough numbers to be taken seriously? I am not sure they did.

It is well known that residents of single-family homes turn out to vote in the highest numbers. Seniors in old-age homes and resident buildings come next and residents of rental buildings are the least likely to vote.

Residents in condo buildings vote in numbers somewhere between single-family home owners and renters. It would be difficult to be otherwise as so many condo units are actually rental units.

So what happens now
Right after the election, Wynne reshuffled her cabinet. Tracy MacCharles has changed portfolios and has been replaced by David Orazietti, the new Minister of Government and Consumer Services. He is the third minister of consumer services in two years.

The new government passed the spring budget and took a long break. The legislature will resume after Thanksgiving.

What about the Act?
Hard to tell. When MacCharles moved to another ministry, she may have taken some of her staff with her. Also, David Orazietti needs to learn his new role and he needs time to learn the new Bill before it could be introduced.

Finally, the new Condo Act has to get into line behind all the other bills that the government will be introducing this winter.

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