OTTAWA — Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer says that Elections Canada is ready to conduct a pandemic election should one be called at any time, without the need for the federal government to pass its COVID-19-focused elections law changes in Bill C-19.Testifying before the Procedure and House Affairs Committee, which is studying the bill, Stephane Perrault, the head of Elections Canada outlined Tuesday how his agency has taken steps on their own to shore up a snap election should one be called while extra pandemic safety precautions are still needed. “Over the last year or so we have undertaken extensive readiness activities, not only to prepare for the next election, but also to adjust to the circumstances of the pandemic and ensure that voting can take place safely,” Perrault said in French, adding that his office remains in ongoing discussions with federal, provincial, and Indigenous health authorities to stay on top of the ever-evolving health situation.
Specifically, Perrault said that Elections Canada has already:
Procured a range of protective equipment and planning infection prevention training, contact tracing, and enforcement measures to ensure safety at polling places for electors and workers at these locations;
Prepared options for high-risk institutions to select from when it comes to how the vote would be delivered in places like seniors residences and long-term care homes to prevent poll workers from having to enter multiple facilities in a day;
Increased the capacity to process mail-in ballots, including implementing an online vote-by-mail application system in anticipation that millions of electors would opt to vote by mail;……….Source:.ctvnews.ca
Monday, April 20, 2026
