As Ontarians head to the polls on February 27, 2025 it is more important than ever to vote. Bring a relative, friend, neighbour, colleague and make it an event.
Unfortunately, during the 2022 provincial election only 43% of eligible Ontarians voted, which was the lowest voter turnout in Ontario’s electoral history. There are certainly many reasons for low voter turnout, but the challenges Ontario faces are too important to not engage with the democratic process. The provincial government plays a significant role in our day to day lives, from land use planning, natural resource management, health care, education, transportation and beyond.
How to Vote
If you are on the voting register, you will receive a voter information card in the mail from February 17 to 22. Don’t worry if you do not receive a voter information card, you can still vote!
All you need to do is bring a valid piece of identification showing both your name and home address. If you don’t receive a voter information card, you can also find out where to vote by entering your postal code on Elections Ontario’s voter information service.
What the Major Parties are Saying About Nature Conservation
Conservation issues have not been prominent this election campaign. As of February 20th, only the Green Party of Ontario has released a full platform. Ontario Nature sent a letter to the four major party leaders with our election priorities, but at time of publishing we have only received a detailed response from the Green Party of Ontario and a note from the Liberal Party of Ontario stating that “nature is a core part of [their] environment plan”.
There were brief mentions of the environment in the two leaders’ debates, which are covered in by The Narwhal.
The following report card identifies what the major parties have said regarding Ontario Nature’s election priorities, either in direct response to our joint letter, in responses received to the Green Prosperity group’s questionnaire, or through other announcements:
| Election Priority | Progressive Conservative Party | New Democratic Party | Liberal Party | Green Party |
| Protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030 | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response |  |
|
| Restore and enhance protections for Ontario’s species at risk | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | |
| Enable Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA)s and other Indigenous-led conservation | Unclear / No Response | |
Unclear / No Response | |
| Increase climate adaptation funding to nature-based solutions | Unclear / No Response | ~ | Unclear / No Response | |
| Protect large intact forest areas | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response |
| Restore the powers of the Conservation Authorities | Unclear / No Response | |
~ | |
| Reverse changes to the Planning Act that encourage sprawl and weaken protections for natural heritage | Unclear / No Response | ~ | ~ | |
| Cancel Highway 413 and Bradford Bypass | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | |
| Reverse changes that limit protections of all wetlands | Unclear / No Response | ~ | Unclear / No Response | |
| Protect, strengthen and expand the Greenbelt | Unclear / No Response | |
~ | |
Legend
- Indicates the party commits to the election priority
- ~ Indicates the party partially commits to the election priority
- Unclear / No Response Indicates the party has not addressed the issue or provided a response
When you vote, please vote for nature!
You can visit our election webpage to find more resources.
Resources
The post Make Your Voice Count by Voting in the Ontario Election appeared first on Ontario Nature.
