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179-G-2021-01 – Instructions to permit the appointment of a deputy special voting rules administrator and of additional special voting rules administrators

Canada Elections Act

44th General Election

Instructions to permit the appointment of a deputy special voting rules administrator and of additional special voting rules administrators

Date of issue: August 18, 2021

Number: 179-G-2021-01

Whereas the writs for the 44th General Election were issued on August 15, 2021, with polling day on September 20, 2021;

Whereas section 181 of the Canada Elections Act (the “Act”) requires the Chief Electoral Officer to appoint a special voting rules administrator;

Whereas section 182 of the Act enumerates the duties of the special voting rules administrator, among which is to proceed with the counting of the votes of electors;

Whereas two provisions of Division 6 of Part 11 of the Act—subsections 267(3.2) and 269(3)—provide the special voting rules administrator with duties that may not be delegated;

Whereas the scope of the duties assigned to the special voting rules administrator by the chief electoral officer has increased and that it is desirable to attribute to more than one election officer the specific tasks referred to at subsections 267(3.2) and 269(3) of the Act;

Whereas, in the context of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the Chief Electoral Officer anticipates a significant increase of applications for registration and special ballot pursuant to Part 11 of the Act;

Whereas the anticipated number of electors who will vote under the Special Voting Rules makes it impossible, in practice, for a single person to accomplish all of the duties attributed by Part 11 of the Act to the special voting rules administrator;

And whereas section 179 of the Act provides the following:

179. For the purpose of applying this Part to, or adapting any provision of this Part in respect of, a particular circumstance, the Chief Electoral Officer may issue any instructions that he or she considers necessary in order to execute its intent.

Therefore, pursuant to section 179 of the Act, the Chief Electoral Officer issues the following instructions:

1. These instructions apply during the 44th General Election.

2. Danielle Duquette is appointed to the position of deputy special voting rules administrator for the period beginning on this day and ending on the day on which she ceases to occupy on an interim basis the position of Director, Alternative Voting Mechanisms within Elections Canada's Electoral Events and Innovation sector.

3. Mariann Canning and Christine Nadeau are each appointed to the position of additional special voting rules administrator for the period beginning on this day and ending on the 5th day following polling day.

4. Before assuming duties, the deputy special voting rules administrator and the additional special voting rules administrator shall make, in writing, the solemn declaration referred to in subsection 23(1) of the Act.

5. The deputy special voting rules administrator may exercise, in that capacity, the duties attributed by Part 11 of the Act to the special voting rules administrator.

6. The additional special voting rules administrator may exercise, in that capacity, the duties attributed by Division 6 of Part 11 of the Act to the special voting rules administrator.

(Original Signed)

Stéphane Perrault
Chief Electoral Officer