Northwest Territories – Extension of time for sending notices of confirmation of registration

42nd General Election

Adaptation of Section 95 of the Canada Elections Act Pursuant to Subsection 17(1) of that Act for the Purpose of Extending the Time for the Issuance of the Notices of Confirmation of Registration to Electors in the Electoral District of the Northwest Territories

Whereas the 42nd general election was called on August 2, 2015, with polling day on October 19, 2015;

Whereas subsection 95(1) of the Canada Elections Act ("the Act") provides that each returning officer shall, not later than the 24^th day before polling day, send a notice of confirmation of registration to every elector whose name appears on the preliminary list of electors, except for certain specified classes of electors;

Whereas in the electoral district of the Northwest Territories, due to the holding of municipal elections in the territories on the same day as the federal polling day, it has been difficult to identify satisfactory polling sites for the federal election that are conveniently located for electors;

Whereas the polling sites must be identified before the notices of confirmation of registration can be printed and sent to electors;

And whereas subsection 17(1) of the Canada Elections Act provides that:

17. (1) During an election period or within 30 days after it, if an emergency, an unusual or unforeseen circumstance or an error makes it necessary, the Chief Electoral Officer may, for the sole purpose of enabling electors to exercise their right to vote or enabling the counting of votes, adapt any provision of this Act and, in particular, may extend the time for doing any act, subject to subsection (2), or may increase the number of election officers or polling stations.

Therefore, section 95 of the Act is hereby adapted to add the following subsection after subsection 95(1):

(1.1) Despite subsection (1), in the electoral district of the Northwest Territories, the deadline for the sending by the returning officer of notices of confirmation of registration shall be extended to the 19^th day before polling day.

September 25, 2015

Marc Mayrand
Chief Electoral Officer