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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

Foreword

This report covers the four by-elections held on November 9, 2009, in the electoral districts of Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, Hochelaga, Montmagny–L’Islet–Kamouraska– Rivière-du-Loup and New Westminster–Coquitlam.

According to subsection 534(2) of the Canada Elections Act, a report on by-elections must cover by-elections held throughout the year and also set out “any matter or event that has arisen or occurred in connection with the administration of the Chief Electoral Officer’s office since the last report […] and that he or she considers should be brought to the attention of the House of Commons.”

This document follows the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on the 40th General Election of October 14, 2008, submitted in February 2009, and the Report on the Evaluations of the 40th General Election of October 14, 2008, submitted in June 2009, which identified a number of issues calling for legislative or administrative improvements. We were able to implement some of the improvement measures set out in those reports before or during the last by-elections – for example, the changes made to the telephone installations in our local offices and to our training programs for election officers.

This report is divided into three sections:

  • Context of the November 2009 by-elections – The particular circumstances surrounding these elections and the administrative initiatives implemented for these electoral events.
  • Conduct of the November 2009 by-elections – Elections Canada’s activities during these elections and the voting results.
  • Next steps – The main actions that Elections Canada plans to undertake following these elections.