Advance voting for the federal by-election in Elmwood—Transcona begins today, offering voters in the riding the chance to cast their ballots early.
The NDP’s Daniel Blaikie stepped down in March to take a job with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, triggering a Sept. 16 by-election in the Winnipeg riding.
Blaikie and his father, the late Bill Blaikie, represented the area for years in the House of Commons.
The 2015 vote was razor-thin as just 61 votes separated the NDP and the incumbent Conservative candidate (Lawrence Toet).
Advance polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the next four days, from Friday, September 6, through to Monday, September 9.
Voters can check their assigned polling station address on their voter information card, through the Elections Canada website, or by calling 1-800-463-6868. To vote, residents must provide proof of identity and address, with a full list of accepted identification available online.
In addition to advance polls, electors have other early voting options. They can cast their vote at the local Elections Canada office until Tuesday, September 10, or vote by mail by applying online before the same deadline.
Elections Canada is also hiring workers for various paid positions in the Elmwood–Transcona by-election, with applications available online or through local offices.
For the next general election, Elmwood—Transcona’s boundaries will move east to include rural territory and the community of Dugald.
CPAC reports that former MP Daniel Blaikie opposed the change, but Manitoba’s boundary commission was not convinced:
“We remain of the view that there are social and economic ties between Elmwood— Transcona and Dugald and its surrounding area,” the commission wrote in a report. “Similarly, we are not persuaded by the argument against ridings comprised of both urban and rural components. The Commission notes that, as a result of the continuing ex-urban sprawl, many developed, concentrated population centres just outside of cities have become semi-urban dormitory communities with much in common with city dwellers. While there may be diverse and sometimes competing interests between such communities, this is also the case within urban communities as well.”