By-elections November 9, 2009 – Official Voting Results

November 9, 2009, by-elections in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, Hochelaga, Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup and New Westminster–Coquitlam

Introduction

This section of the Chief Electoral Officer's report on the federal by-elections held on November 9, 2009, describes the circumstances leading to the calling of the by-elections, presents the electoral districts involved, the nomination of candidates, the numbers of registered electors, polling stations, voter turnout and candidates elected.

The following section presents further information and summary data on the official voting results, in the form of tables. The concluding section gives the poll-by-poll results for the by-elections.

Information on the administration of the November 9, 2009, by-elections will appear in a report to be published in March 2010:

• Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Following the November 9, 2009, By-elections Held in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, Hochelaga, Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup and New Westminster–Coquitlam

The report will be available at www.elections.ca.

Calling the by-elections

On April 30, 2009, Bill Casey, the Independent Member of Parliament for Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley resigned, leaving his seat in the House of Commons vacant. Mr. Casey was a member of Parliament for over 16 years. A writ ordering a by-election in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley was accordingly issued on October 4, 2009.

On September 16, 2009, Réal Ménard, the Bloc Québécois Member of Parliament for Hochelaga resigned, leaving his seat in the House of Commons vacant. Mr. Ménard was a member of Parliament for over 15 years. A writ ordering a by-election in Hochelaga was accordingly issued on October 4, 2009.

On May 21, 2009, Paul Crête, the Bloc Québécois Member of Parliament for Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup resigned, leaving his seat in the House of Commons vacant. Mr. Crête was a member of Parliament for over 15 years. A writ ordering a by-election in Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup was accordingly issued on October 4, 2009.

On April 13, 2009, Dawn Black, the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for New Westminster–Coquitlam resigned, leaving her seat in the House of Commons vacant. Ms. Black was a member of Parliament for over 8 years. A writ ordering a by-election in New Westminster–Coquitlam was accordingly issued on October 4, 2009.

At that time, the seat distribution in the House of Commons was: Conservative Party of Canada – 143 seats; Liberal Party of Canada – 77 seats; Bloc Québécois – 47 seats; New Democratic Party – 36 seats; Independent – 1 seat; and vacant – 4 seats.

Electoral districts

The boundaries of the electoral districts of Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, Hochelaga, Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup and New Westminster–Coquitlam were the same as those in effect during the 2008 federal general election. They coincide with the boundaries defined in the Representation Order of 2003, issued in accordance with the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act.

Table 1
Returning officers

Electoral district	Name	Occupation	Place of residence
Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley	Darlene Mackay	Administrative Assistant	Truro
Hochelaga	Suzanne Paquin	Retired Director	Montréal
Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup	Pierrette Couillard	Notary	Cacouna
New Westminster–Coquitlam	Leslie Neil Budd	Business	Coquitlam

Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley
Population based on the 2006 Census: 87,895

Hochelaga
Population based on the 2006 Census: 100,915

Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup
Population based on the 2006 Census: 97,492

New Westminster–Coquitlam
Population based on the 2006 Census: 111,231

Nomination of candidates

The candidates in the by-elections had until 2:00 p.m. on October 21, 2009, to file their nomination papers in accordance with the date published in the Notice of Election by the returning officers.

In Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, five registered parties nominated candidates: the Christian Heritage Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party. There was one independent candidate. None of the candidates withdrew during the period in which this was permitted.

In Hochelaga, seven registered parties nominated candidates: the Bloc Québécois, the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada, the neorhino.ca and the New Democratic Party. There was one independent candidate. None of the candidates withdrew during the period in which this was permitted.

In Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, five registered parties nominated candidates: the Bloc Québécois, the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party. There were no independent candidates. None of the candidates withdrew during the period in which this was permitted.

In New Westminster–Coquitlam, four registered parties nominated candidates: the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party. There were no independent candidates. None of the candidates withdrew during the period in which this was permitted.

Numbers of registered electors

For the November 9, 2009, by-elections, there were 67,789 names on the preliminary lists of electors in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley; 78,620 names on the preliminary lists for Hochelaga; 77,886 names on the preliminary lists for Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup; and 82,225 names on the preliminary lists for New Westminster–Coquitlam. The lists were produced from information in the National Register of Electors. During the revision period, which extended from October 7 until November 3, 2009, 1,773 electors were registered in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley (752 supplemental registrations sent from the Chief Electoral Officer and 1,021 as part of the revision process). In Hochelaga, 3,117 electors were registered (2,729 supplemental registrations sent from the Chief Electoral Officer and 388 as part of the revision process). In Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, 2,605 electors were registered (1,521 supplemental registrations sent from the Chief Electoral Officer and 1,084 as part of the revision process). In New Westminster–Coquitlam, 1,530 electors were registered (956 supplemental registrations sent from the Chief Electoral Officer and 574 as part of the revision process). These figures include electors who were already on the lists but had changed addresses.

The names recorded on the final lists of electors (that is, the lists prepared after election day) numbered 68,304 in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley; 78,801 in Hochelaga; 77,877 in Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup; and 81,903 in New Westminster–Coquitlam.

These lists included the names of 531 electors who registered on election day in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, some of whom had changed addresses. In Hochelaga, 206 electors (including those with changes of address) registered on election day. And on election day, 303 electors registered in Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup and 476 in New Westminster–Coquitlam.

Polling stations

On election day, the ordinary polling stations were open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Atlantic Time) in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley; from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) in Hochelaga and Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup; and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) in New Westminster–Coquitlam.

The returning officer in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley set up 226 ordinary polling stations, 215 of which were stationary. In Hochelaga, there were 207 ordinary polling stations, 201 of which were stationary. In Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, there were 241 ordinary polling stations, 226 of which were stationary. In New Westminster–Coquitlam, there were 211 ordinary polling stations, 204 of which were stationary.

In addition, the Act provides for the establishment of mobile polling stations to collect the votes of seniors and persons with disabilities who live in long–term care facilities. These polling stations, which serve polling divisions with at least two institutions, travel from institution to institution, and they remain open at each place only as long as necessary to enable the electors present to vote. In the November 9, 2009, by-election in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, 11 mobile polling stations served 728 electors. In Hochelaga, there were 6 mobile polling stations serving 678 electors. In Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, 15 mobile polling stations served 1,652 electors. In New Westminster–Coquitlam, 7 mobile polling stations served 730 electors.

The returning officer is required to set up advance polling stations to collect the votes of electors who do not wish to go to their ordinary polling stations on election day. The electoral district of Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley had 17 advance polling stations, while Hochelaga had 10, Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup had 14 and New Westminster–Coquitlam had 12. All the advance polling stations were open from noon to 8:00 p.m. (local time) on October 30, 31 and November 2, 2009.

Voter turnout

A total of 24,458 electors cast a ballot in the by-election in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, a participation rate of 35.8%. Of these electors, 20,514 (or 83.9%) voted on election day at their ordinary polling stations.

In Hochelaga, 17,833 electors cast a ballot in the by-election, a participation rate of 22.6%. Of these electors, 15,660 (or 87.8%) voted on election day at their ordinary polling stations.

In Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, 28,766 electors cast a ballot in the by-election, a participation rate of 36.9%. Of these electors, 25,315 (or 88.0%) voted on election day at their ordinary polling stations.

In New Westminster–Coquitlam, 24,541 electors cast a ballot in the by-election, a participation rate of 30.0%. Of these electors, 20,631 (or 84.1%) voted on election day at their ordinary polling stations.

Table 2
Number of electors who voted, by voting method

Voting method	Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley		Hochelaga		Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup		New Westminster–Coquitlam
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Ordinary polling stations	20,514	83.9	15,660	87.8	25,315	88.0	20,631	84.1
Advance polling stations	3,408	13.9	1,835	10.3	3,093	10.8	3,076	12.5
Special Voting Rules – Group 1*	39	0.2	20	0.1	16	0.1	35	0.1
Special Voting Rules – Group 2**	497	2.0	318	1.8	342	1.2	799	3.3
Total	24,458	100	17,833	100	28,766	100***	24,541	100

*Includes Canadian citizens temporarily residing outside Canada, members of the Canadian Forces (except members of the Canadian Forces who voted at the polling station established for the polling division of their place of ordinary residence) and incarcerated electors.

**Includes Canadian citizens residing in Canada who voted by special ballot in or outside their electoral districts.

***Due to rounding, figures do not add up to total shown.

Candidates elected

In the November 9, 2009, by-elections, the Conservative Party of Canada candidate, Scott Armstrong, was declared elected in Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley once the validation of results was completed. The Bloc Québécois candidate, Daniel Paillé, was declared elected in Hochelaga once the validation of results was completed. The Conservative Party of Canada candidate, Bernard Généreux, was declared elected in Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup once the validation of results was completed. In New Westminster–Coquitlam, after the validation of results, the New Democratic Party candidate, Fin Donnelly, was declared elected.

Following the by-elections of November 9, 2009, the distribution of seats in the House of Commons was:

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