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1. Launching the By-electionsReport on the 2020 By-elections

COVID-19 pandemic affecting the by-elections

Delivering elections during a pandemic brought about a suite of challenges. In Toronto Centre and York Centre, the evolving pandemic situation was further compounded when both regions moved from the "yellow" to the "red" zone designation during the course of the election calendar. Elections Canada successfully tailored and adapted its processes and products to comply with local public health rules and recommendations, and was successful in providing a safe environment for electors, candidates, office staff and poll workers.

An estimated 29% of eligible electors voted during the two federal by-elections. In comparison, turnouts for the four by-elections held in 2019 ranged from 20% to 41%. Therefore, despite the COVID-19 circumstances, turnout for the 2020 by-elections was in line with previous by-elections.

The common trends for the fall 2020 by-elections were general concerns about creating a safe voting experience for everyone, the implementation of health and safety measures in Elections Canada offices and at the polls, and an uptick in voting during advance polling days and in requests to vote by mail.

Issue of the writs

By-elections were held in October 2020 to fill vacancies in the House of Commons in two electoral districts.

Issue of the writs for the 2020 by-elections
By-election date Electoral district Reason for vacancy Writ issue date
October 26, 2020(39-day election period) Toronto Centre Resignation of the Hon. Bill Morneau (Liberal Party of Canada) September 18, 2020
York Centre Resignation of Michael Levitt (Liberal Party of Canada)

Opening Elections Canada offices; hiring and training election workers

Shortly after the writs were issued for the 2020 by-elections, the agency opened an Elections Canada office in Toronto Centre and one in York Centre.

For the 2020 by-elections, returning officers hired 522 and 544 election workers in the electoral districts of Toronto Centre and York Centre, respectively. By comparison, 885 and 746 were hired to work in those same electoral districts during the 43rd general election. The difference is largely due to the new poll staffing model, which assigned a single poll worker to each polling station instead of two. We relied on recruitment in adjacent electoral districts to staff the required number of workers. See Table 1 in the Appendix for the type and number of election officer positions filled for the 2020 by-elections.

Elections Canada provided a wide range of training materials for staff in the electoral districts, including video presentations and manuals supplemented by online resources.

Training staff in both electoral districts received updated information and procedures as changes were made in response to the latest guidance on pandemic measures, which they then communicated to workers.

Moreover, to ease classroom training pressures, the agency deployed self-training workbooks for registration officers and information officers in the Toronto Centre by-election (at the returning officer's request). The independent audit and observations by visitors suggest that these alternate training methods were effective and did not diminish workers' abilities to serve electors at the polls.

Elections Canada encountered three key issues when hiring for these by-elections:

  • Phone calls to potential poll workers took more time than usual, mostly to address questions related to working in the pandemic environment. As a result, more agents were required to make recruitment calls.
  • Physical distancing in the office was not ideal for team work.
  • There were also sanitary concerns about sharing computer and phone equipment during the pandemic.

To mitigate some of these issues in future electoral events, more equipment would be ideal.

Physical distancing was applied in the office, and designated sections were created for walk-in applicants. Poll workers were also clearly informed that they had to wear a mask while at work.

The Chief Electoral Officer authorized certain measures to give returning officers more flexibility in managing their human resources process. For more information, see Table 11 – Adaptations made pursuant to subsection 17(1) of the Canada Elections Act.

Working with political entities

Candidates and registered political parties

At the start of the by-election period, there were 23 political parties that could support candidates for the 2020 by-elections (20 registered parties and 3 eligible parties). Subsequently, 1 eligible party became registered with the confirmation of its candidate.

After the close of nominations, there were 21 registered parties (see the Appendix for the complete list). As stipulated in the Canada Elections Act, prospective candidates had to file their nomination papers or online nomination form by 2:00 p.m. on the 21st day before election day. Ten candidates submitted their forms in person, and five candidates opted for the online nomination process.

Number of candidates during the 2020 by-elections
Electoral district Candidate(s) affiliated with a political party Independent candidate(s) Unaffiliated candidate(s) Total number of candidates
Toronto Centre 7 1 1 9
York Centre 5 1 0 6

In the Appendix, Table 2 lists the confirmed candidates and their party affiliation at the close of nominations for each electoral district. The average number of candidates per by-election held since 2014 is around six.

Soon after the close of nominations, returning officers held meetings by teleconference with the confirmed candidates and their representatives to describe their obligations and responsibilities under the Canada Elections Act. Electoral products such as maps of polling stations and lists of electors were made available to political entities via the Political Entities Service Centre's product repository.

Election expenses limits

Final election expenses limits are based on the number of names on the preliminary lists of electors or on the revised lists of electors, whichever is greater, and are established in accordance with the Canada Elections Act. Table 3 in the Appendix shows the election expenses limits for candidates and political parties.

The Act also places spending limits on third-party election advertising expenses. One third party was registered for the by-elections held on October 26, 2020. The spending limit was $4,473 in each electoral district.

Pandemic-related adaptive measures

Electors consenting to candidacy

The Canada Elections Act required prospective candidates in Toronto Centre and York Centre to collect the witnessed signatures of at least 100 electors consenting to the candidacy. These signatures are usually collected on forms on which up to 10 electors may sign. Elections Canada introduced a single-sheet elector signature page to facilitate the collection of signatures while reducing the handling of documents by multiple individuals, thereby minimizing risks of COVID-19 infection. Political parties and candidates were informed of this new tool through the returning office and by way of the Advisory Committee of Political Parties. Of the 15 candidates, 8 used the new form in full or in part.

Elections Canada headquarters and offices of returning officers received a number of questions and complaints about the dangers of going door to door to collect signatures during the pandemic. Complaints typically centered on the risk of infection and the fact that the signatures requirement did not align with local public health guidelines about staying home and minimizing social contact. In addition, the applications of two prospective candidates were rejected because they failed to collect enough signatures.

Candidate solemn declaration by videoconference

As an adaptive measure to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection and respond to the predicted increase in the use of online services for nomination submissions, Elections Canada offered prospective candidates the option of having their solemn declaration administered by videoconference. Of the 15 confirmed candidates, 3 chose to have their solemn declaration administered by videoconference. Two prospective candidates whose nomination papers were subsequently refused also completed their declarations in this manner.

Campaign guidance for canvassing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Elections Canada introduced a new fact sheet on its website outlining public health best practices for canvassing door-to-door and in public spaces. This fact sheet was developed in collaboration with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Candidates and canvassers were directed to follow local public health measures and to contact their local public health authorities for the most up-to-date information and instructions for their area.