Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 25th, 2025

[Kati Csaba]

The answer depends a bit on the location of the embassy or mission abroad and the expected number of voters.

In large missions, where we know there will be a large number of Canadians voting—I'm thinking of western Europe, for example—we would normally send the ballots in batches. We'll count backwards from the date of the election to know the last day we can send a shipment via courier, but if we are expecting large numbers of ballots, we will send multiple shipments back to headquarters.

For missions in more distant locations—smaller missions or remote locations—we might not see the same volume, but we would go through the same process of working backwards from the election date to know how much time we need to allow for the courier company to deliver the ballots back to Canada in time.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I think that answered my next question. It sounds like you're saying a specific mission would work backward and different countries would then set a different date. Global Affairs doesn't say, “Here is the date that something must be done by.”

[Kati Csaba]

Absolutely. We know that for some very distant locations and more remote locations, it could take quite a while for a package to get back.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I understand.

You mentioned that specific consulates have higher proportions. Are there stats available as to how many ballots are received and transmitted, let's say, by each embassy? Do you see patterns that we can work with to improve voter turnout?

[Kati Csaba]

I don't have such statistics available with me now, but I'm happy to look into that question and get back to the committee on whether we can provide specific stats. I know that 164 of our missions abroad sent ballots back to Canada, but I can see if we can find the numbers.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I'm just looking to see if there's a way of allocating resources.

With my remaining time, I'll go to Captain Salt.

You talked about those inside Canada, OUTCAN and those deployed. Do you have percentages of votes that come from each, roughly? I'm not looking for stats, but I imagine there's also a sliding scale of complication.

[James Salt]

I don't have the stats on me. I can say that of the 25,000 special votes that were distributed to Canadians and returned, approximately 3,200 came in from either OUTCAN or deployed operations. I do not believe we have the detail of where they came from specifically. I would have to refer back to Elections Canada on that.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I'm just looking for patterns to see how we can help. There would also be polling stations versus mail-in ballots in general. Do you have a general proportion of...?

[James Salt]

Again, I would have to go back to Elections Canada to see if that data exists. The 3,200 were all the special ballots that.... The 25,000 and the 3,200 were a combination of ballots that were struck during polling stations and individual ballot kits that were handed out to our members overseas.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

With about 30 seconds left, maybe I can ask you two to split this.

Is there a final ask you'd have of the committee? I'll go to Captain Salt first and then to Ms. Csaba for a quick item to ask for.

[James Salt]

We run a pretty tight ship—pardon the pun—with the uniform. At this time, there's nothing I can think of from the committee.

[Kati Csaba]

There is nothing to add on my side.

[The Chair, Liberal, Chris Bittle]

Excellent. It was answered in 25 seconds. The chair appreciates that.

I'd like to thank the witnesses for their testimony.

Seeing no further business, we are adjourned.