Quebec’s municipal elections face potential disruption due to the ongoing Canada Post strike. The Legault government is urging a temporary truce to ensure timely delivery of crucial voter information. Geneviève Guilbault, Quebec’s minister of municipal affairs, emphasized the importance of voter notices, which confirm voter registration and provide essential voting details.
The call for cooperation comes amid stalled negotiations between Canada Post and its workers, leading to a nationwide strike. Quebec’s upcoming municipal elections on Nov. 2 involve electing representatives in over 1,100 municipalities, with 8,000 council positions at stake. The distribution of voter information cards is a key step before elections.
Guillaume Tremblay from the Union des municipalités du Québec highlighted the significance of voter notices in Quebec, where voters must prove their registration to cast a ballot. Elections Quebec is collaborating with the Municipal Affairs Ministry to address the situation. Municipalities are required to mail voter cards after nominations close, with larger municipalities sending reminder cards closer to the election date.
In response to the strike, some cities, like St. John’s, N.L., have postponed their elections. Elections Montreal is closely monitoring developments and preparing contingency measures. Montreal voters can seek assistance from call center agents throughout the election period. Concerns also arise regarding mail-in voting for non-domiciled electors in Quebec municipalities.
