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North Bay’s Mayor says there are plenty of positives with changes to municipal elections.

The province recently passed the Municipal Elections Modernization Act.

Mayor Al McDonald says he agrees with banning corporate and union contributions, they’re trying to get better voter turnout, creating a framework to regulate third-party advertising and he says making it easier to get on the voters list is key.

Meantime, the McDonald doesn’t agree with ranked ballots. “No municipality in Canada does this, and I think it’s going to cause confusion with the voters. I believe a vote is a vote so if you’re going to vote for somebody that vote goes to him or her.”

Overall, the province says the changes will increase transparency and accountability.

Meantime, the length of election campaigns are shrinking. Nominations will now open on May 1st instead of January 1st in a municipal election year.