Inquiry to initiate examination proceedings.
In the latest developments, Montreal's Elections Canada is delving into the chaotic voting scene in Nunavik during the 2025 federal elections, where some residents were left high and dry.
Stéphane Perrault, the big cheese at Elections Canada, extended an apology to the locals residing in Quebec's northern region, the traditional homeland of the province's Indigenous residents. In a statement released on Wednesday, he lamented the fact that some Nunavik electors failed to cast their votes.
"I feel the weight of remorse that some Nunavik electors couldn't exercise their democratic right. Over the past three years, we've been in talks with Indigenous communities nationwide, prioritizing the elimination of barriers and enhancing voting services for Indigenous electors," Stéphane Perrault, the Chief Electoral Officer, shared.
Perrault reassured the public that his organization will thoroughly probe the reasons behind this fiasco and make the findings public. The apologies followed several reports suggesting that polling stations in some Nunavik communities shut down prematurely due to discouraging weather conditions hindering the movement of electoral workers. In some cases, the polling stations remained closed altogether.
On Tuesday, Makivvik, an organization representing Quebec's Inuit, voiced discontent with the voter experience in Nunavik and called upon Elections Canada to crack the whip on the issue. According to Makivvik, some Nunavik Inuit were placed on the naughty list when it came to exercising their voting rights, a situation Makivvik deemed unacceptable in this day and age.
Makivvik has urged Elections Canada to take swift action to guarantee that every Nunavik Inuk gets an equal opportunity to vote in the future.
Mandy Gull-Masty, a former Grand Chief of the Cree Nation of Quebec, clinched the riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou for the Liberals on Monday, besting the incumbent Bloc Québécois MP, Sylvie Bérubé. Makivvik lauded Gull-Masty's election, deeming it an essential step forward for the riding.
"Mandy Gull-Masty knows the pulse of our communities, and we're thrilled that she spared some time to visit Nunavik during the campaign. Her triumph makes for an important milestone for our riding, and we're eager to work hand in hand with her," said Makivvik President Pita Aatami.
Behind the Scenes of 2025 Election Voting Issues
Recent 2025 reports point to systemic issues that plagued voters in Nunavik. For instance, polling stations in Ivujivik and Akulivik failed to open, while inconsistent hours in Puvirnituq, Quaqtaq, Umiujaq, and Salluit restricted access. Makivvik, a key player in Nunavik, characterized these barriers as unacceptable, emphasizing that geographic disparities essentially disenfranchised voters.
It seems that Elections Canada's response to the 2025 predicaments has yet to be detailed, but Makivvik has insisted on an immediate investigation and reforms to establish equal access. The organization has underscored the need for Elections Canada to tackle logistical failures like inconsistent polling hours and station closures to safeguard voting rights.
Key Actions Sought:- Investigations into polling station failures- Standardized access to level the playing field geographically- Outreach to ensure Nunavimmiut can exercise their voting rights
The 2021 election-specific issues or responses lack documented evidence, but for 2025, the fight for systemic reform continues. The low turnout in Nunavut (36.8%) in 2025 underscores the broader concerns regarding northern voting accessibility. As of the latest reports, Elections Canada has yet to publicly respond to the 2025 complaints.
- Elections Canada is planning to investigate the reasons behind the polling station failures in Nunavik during the 2025 federal elections.
- Mandy Gull-Masty, the newly-elected Liberal MP for Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou, has been praised by Makivvik for her understanding of the communities' needs in Nunavik.
- According to Makivvik, the unacceptable barriers faced by Nunavik voters, such as polling station closures and inconsistent hours, necessitate immediate investigations and reforms to ensure equal access in the region.
- In a statement, Stéphane Perrault, the Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Canada, expressed remorse for the inability of some Nunavik electors to exercise their democratic right in the 2025 elections.
- The latest developments involving the chaotic voting scene in Nunavik have sparked discussions on policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, and war-and-conflicts concerning the government's role in addressing systemic issues impacting the French and québécois communities nationwide.
