Ontario’s next election will arrive earlier than expected, with more politicians and possibly less third-party cash.

Premier Kathleen Wynne on Thursday confirmed that Ontarians would go to the polls in the spring of 2018 instead of October that year.

The premier said the change will avoid any conflict with municipal elections and take advantage of better weather and longer days.

Wynne also said the province will adopt the new federal riding boundaries in southern Ontario while retaining the same northern constituencies.

That will mean 122 MPPs will be elected in 2018 — up from 107. In the federal election expected Oct. 19 there will be 121 ridings up for grabs in the province, a jump from 106.

Ontario will keep one additional seat in the north compared with federally because Queen’s Park wants to ensure the “unique needs of the north” are protected.

“These measures would ensure that Ontario’s electoral boundaries live up to the fundamental democratic principle of representation by population,” the premier said of legislation that will be tabled this fall.

At the same time, the Liberals will finally tackle the controversial practice of third-party advertising, though Wynne stressed no decisions have been made on how to proceed.

Some $8.7 million was spent on such ads by teachers’ unions and other labour organizations during the June 2014 election.

Most of that money helped the Liberals by bankrolling TV attacks ads targeting the Progressive Conservatives.

Third-party spending has climbed from about $6 million during the 2011 campaign and $1.8 million in the 2007 vote.

The highest-profile advertiser has been the Working Families coalition of unions, which the Conservatives have unsuccessfully tried to link to the Liberals with complaints to Elections Ontario and in the courts.

Compared to the rest of Canada, Ontario is the Wild West of election spending. Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick all have strict controls on third-party advertising. Federally, there is a limit on spending of $188,000 per group nationally.

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown said curbs are needed.

“If they are going to do it then it cannot just be a tease, it actually has to be significant reform,” said Brown.

Also Thursday, Wynne announced the government will lower the age of registering to vote to 16 — though casting ballots will remain restricted to those 18 and older.

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While that revision is designed to engage younger voters by encouraging them to register, the premier said there are no plans to move forward with online voting.

Chief electoral officer Greg Essensa, who has been calling for the reforms Wynne touted for years, welcomed the changes.

“I am pleased that the government has heard my recommendations and I welcome progress on these initiatives,” Essensa said in a statement Thursday.

“The recommendations being addressed make it easier for Ontarians to vote and level the playing field protecting the integrity of our system.”

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