Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Oct. 2nd, 2025

[Stéphane Perrault]

We have information products in different languages. As I mentioned, we have them in 50 languages, but we also provided media information packages. That's particularly important for diaspora communities, who often have their own media, radio or channels. We provide additional information to those media in the languages of the diaspora communities. We did that in this election more than.... I don't have the numbers with me, but certainly in Chinese and Mandarin, for example, we had more information available in those languages to circulate.

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

In election cycles, is that an ongoing conversation that you would have with these established networks?

[Stéphane Perrault]

Much less so. In the lead-up to the election in Edmonton, we piloted a regional coordinator who did civic education for both students and adults. We have a very large network of Inspire Democracy groups that receive our information and share it with their members, and that can happen at any time. It tends to be more active during the election period, but they certainly do that across the electoral cycle. We have a range of ethno-linguistic communities that receive information through the Inspire Democracy program. We have right now some 900 partner organizations.

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

Thank you.

I have one last question.

You talked about the vote on campus program. This was the first time it was done in a non-fixed-date election. What additional outreach education strategies are being considered to increase the percentage of youth, especially in post-secondary institutions, and help them be more informed about voting? Can you report on how that program worked?

[The Chair, Liberal, Chris Bittle]

Give us a brief answer. You have about 30 seconds left.

[Stéphane Perrault]

Okay.

The program was a challenge, not just because it was not a fixed date election but also in terms of uptake, because many students were away from campuses during the spring and, in some cases, a small number who had committed to it said “no” because their campuses were closed. We work with student organizations both to recruit and to promote activities during the election period. We work with student organizations ahead of the election to prepare for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Chris Bittle]

Thank you so much.

Ms. Normandin for six minutes.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Perrault and Mr. Roussel, thank you for joining us this morning to help us improve the process. There's always room for improvement, so we know it'll remain a work in progress and we'll happily do that work with you.

I'd like to start by asking questions about the special ballots.

The Report on the 45th General Election of April 28, 2025, on pages 20, 21 and 22, provides statistics for the 44th and 45th general elections. We see that, from one election to the next, the rate of special ballots not returned and cancelled varies between approximately 3% and 7%.

Is it accurate to say that, during an election, we can hardly expect the ballot return rate to be 100%?

[Stéphane Perrault]

That's never happened, either at the provincial level or the federal level. There are always some ballots that aren't returned or are returned late.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Similarly, we can expect that, for different reasons, the rate of ballots not returned will vary from one election to the next, isn't that right?

[Stéphane Perrault]

It can vary. The good news is that, this time, we saw a net improvement with regard to the different types of special ballots, be they local, national or international. Overall, fewer ballots were returned late or not returned.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

When an official notices an error in the return address on certain ballots, can they logically rely on historical rates, for example, or on the fact that there are always some ballots that aren't returned, to justify not contacting the electors to whom they sent these ballots, in order to offer them an alternative way to vote?

[Stéphane Perrault]

Mr. Chair, I ask your indulgence in allowing me to speak carefully. I'm well aware the question relates to the specific case of Terrebonne, which is now before the courts. I don't think it's a bear trap, so to speak, but I'd rather not comment. Once the court has ruled on the Terrebonne case, it'll be easier for me to talk about it.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I understand your caution and I concur, but I'm trying to project myself into the future to prevent it from happening again.

I'm trying to see if we should somehow eliminate the various justifications allowing officials not to contact people to whom ballots were sent when errors are detected. In other words, when an error is identified, what reasons could someone use to justify not contacting people to whom those ballots were sent and inviting them to vote in another way?

[Stéphane Perrault]

First, when a staffer at the office of the returning officer or an electoral worker notices a situation where an error could have compromised the ability of an elector or a group of electors to exercise their right to vote, we ask that the information be shared not only with the returning officer but also with headquarters. In some cases, local solutions are possible; in others, adaptations to the act are required.

In my report, there are a number of adaptations to the special voting rules process to remedy errors that occurred. In every election, there are instances where incorrect instructions are given and errors are made, however, when we notice them, we can remedy them. In my report, there are a number of examples of adaptations that were made to protect the right of electors to cast their ballot.

That said, this is a general response that isn't specific to Terrebonne.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

That's what I was looking for.

Do election workers receive primarily verbal training or do they leave with a written document that explains in advance what they need to do when they notice an error?

[Stéphane Perrault]

One of the challenges is to really condense the information for election workers so they don't get lost in all the different documents. However, I can assure you that local teams are provided with written documentation, which instructs workers to sound the alarm in situations where an elector's right to vote is in jeopardy.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

When an error is found, how do they contact their supervisor, for example, the returning officer and then you? Is it done verbally or via an informal email? Is there a form?

How is the chain of command, if I can call it that, informed of an error?

[Stéphane Perrault]

During an election, there's often a sense of urgency, so you'll understand that it's done verbally. However, there are forms available to report such incidents so they're documented. Often, when we're informed of a problematic situation, we ask that an incident report be filed so we can obtain all possible details. That said, sometimes there's tension between the need to quickly resolve a situation and the need to document it. We try to combine the two, but there are processes in place to document this.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Is it relatively standardized?

[Stéphane Perrault]

Yes. I don't know if Mr. Roussel wants to add anything.

[Michel Roussel, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Events and Innovation, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer]

Yes, it's relatively standardized. We have a call centre that collects and documents situations raised by returning officers. As Mr. Perrault explained, if there's a major incident, a standard form is filled out and submitted to Elections Canada to allow it to conduct an investigation, if necessary.

[The Chair, Liberal, Chris Bittle]

Thank you so much.

We'll move right along. Next is Mr. Van Popta, for five minutes, please.

[Tako Van Popta, Conservative, Langley Township—Fraser Heights, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Perrault and Mr. Roussel, for being here with us. Thank you for a very thorough report on the 45th general election. It was interesting reading.

It's an immense undertaking to have a general election in a fair and conclusive manner, but there were some challenges, which you highlight in the report. I want to talk about one, which hits close to home to me. It was in the riding of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, which is right across the river from my riding of Langley Township—Fraser Heights.

Just to set the context, the special ballots that were cast in that riding by electors who did not live in that riding amounted to 822 ballots, and they were not counted. They were not included in the official count because—

[Stéphane Perrault]

I'm sorry. They will be reflected, except where there are issues with secrecy of the vote. They will be reflected alongside the official count.