EDIT: If the elections.ca website is down for you, see here
Election Information
I recommend that you check the links yourself! I’ve copied some of the information below:
Ways to vote
See this page for full details.
Vote on election day (April 28)
- Check the hours for your timezone
- Check your polling station on your voter information card or by using the Voter Information Service website.
Vote by mail
- This method is for those who requested mail-in ballots a while back.
- Make sure that you get in your ballot on time: elections.ca/voting-by-mail
- uses the special ballot process
Special Ballots
Remember: Once you apply to vote by special ballot, you can’t change your mind and vote at advance polls or on election day.
See this page for deadlines for when you can apply for one, and when they must receive it by. It also has information on what you must do differently when filling out this ballot: https://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=vote&dir=spe&document=index&lang=e
If you are having any issues, reach out to your local Elections Canada office to know your options.
Data on your district:
Find your riding, your local Elections Canada office, and your candidates by using the search on the homepage: elections.ca
You can also use the detailed search at: elections.ca/scripts/vis/FindED
Canadians, what’s the deal with “official party status”? I gather from the CBC that you need 12 seats to achieve it, but what does it actually do, what’s the reasoning behind it, and do people generally like this system?
For context, here in Australia party status is decided pre-election, and only requires you have 1500 active members, or at least 1 incumbent. To my knowledge the only thing it gives you here is more flexibility with respect to campaign financing.
It’s time allotment in the HoC and money for staff, research, etc. Not much more.
Just having that presence and national media time could vault a proper leader and party forward with the savings from staffing and offices near but not on the hill and could be very beneficial for the right small party. Getting there is the hard part. Grasping it and making it work, hasn’t happened yet.
Honestly, I hadn’t even heard much about it until this election, and I’ve been pretty heavily involved in electoral politics. To actually register a party it’s just a fee and a few hundred signatures, and the requirement to get a candidate on the ballot is similar.
Even the Green party has sat in the house with their one MP. I’m guessing the official status is more of a symbolic goal, even if it comes with goodies.
Not having official party status doesn’t mean an elected MP can’t sit in the HoC. It means they can’t ask questions, sit on any committees and they receive minimal funding.
Registering a party to run in an election is different than obtaining official party status. It’s also not a new topic during elections.
Yes, I know. I was explaining to OP, who’s not Canadian.
Official party status has never come up in any of my campaigns. Go figure.