Report on the 2019 By-elections

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March 30, 2020

The Honourable Anthony Rota, P.C., M.P.
Speaker of the House of Commons
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I am pleased to provide my report on the by-elections held in 2019 in the following electoral districts:

• On February 25: Outremont (Quebec), York–Simcoe (Ontario), Burnaby South (British Columbia)
• On May 6: Nanaimo–Ladysmith (British Columbia)

I have prepared the report in accordance with subsection 534(2) of the Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9. Under section 536 of the Act, the Speaker shall submit this report to the House of Commons without delay.

The report includes a summary of the official voting results and other information on the by-elections.

For more information, please see the Elections Canada website at elections.ca.

Yours sincerely,

Stéphane Perrault
Chief Electoral Officer

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• 1. Launching the By-elections
• Legal matters affecting the by-elections
  • Implementation of Bill C-76
  • Frank v. Canada
• Issue of the writs
• Opening Elections Canada offices; hiring and training election workers
• Working with political entities
  • Candidates and registered political parties
  • Election expenses limits
• 2. Information Campaign for Electors
• Objectives of the campaign
  • Social media
  • Website
  • Enquiries from electors
  • Direct mail
  • Community relations and outreach
  • Media Relations
• 3. Voter Registration Services
• National Register of Electors
  • Coverage, currency and accuracy of the Register
  • Revision period
• 4. Voting Services
• Polling places
• Voting
  • Voting at assigned advance and election day polling places
  • Voting by mail or at an Elections Canada office
• Voter turnout
• Projects enabled by IT Services
• Adaptation
• 5. Concluding the By-elections
• Election results
• Validation of results and return of writs
• Complaints
• Reporting obligations after polling day
• Cost of the by-elections
• Election officer compliance with procedures
• Survey of Electors
• Appendix

• Next