Days after the release of the Elections Canada report on the events in Nunavik during the federal election, Russ Johnson remains frustrated and angry. Speaking from Montreal, he expressed disappointment at what he perceives as incomplete information provided by the report.
Elections Canada’s report, made public last Thursday, acknowledged a series of deficiencies that resulted in early closures of polling stations in half of Nunavik’s villages on election day. Some villages, like Akulivik and Ivujivik, experienced a complete absence of voting services. The shortcomings identified included a lack of meaningful community engagement in the election plan, approved by Elections Canada headquarters, and the returning officer’s failure to conduct mandatory outreach activities before the voting day.
Despite the report’s acknowledgment of these issues, Johnson, a former Nunavik resident who volunteered for Liberal MP Mandy Gull-Masty’s campaign in the region, continues to seek clarity. He questions why polling staff were allowed to leave early due to adverse weather conditions, despite having secured accommodations. Additionally, he is puzzled by the absence of community outreach efforts.
Johnson attributes many of the problems to individuals from southern regions overseeing operations in Nunavik, criticizing the centralized decision-making process from Val d’Or.
In a separate perspective, Ivujivik mayor Adamie Kalingo recalled Elections Canada staff briefly visiting his community without facilitating any voting activities. Feeling neglected, Kalingo emphasized the importance of Nunavimmiut’s voices in the electoral process and expressed hope that the report would result in improved consultation and communication in the future.
The report highlighted instances where voting services were exclusively provided by French-speaking staff in locations where Inuktitut and English are the primary languages. Elections Canada stated its commitment to collaborating with communities to recruit and train local individuals who understand the language and community dynamics.
Regarding recommendations, the report suggested enhanced community engagement by the returning officer, greater accountability, and the implementation of a formal escalation protocol. It also proposed dedicated teams with knowledge of Indigenous and northern community realities to assist in election planning and execution.
While Elections Canada highlighted its authority to conduct independent audits and inquiries under its charter, Johnson called for an independent audit of the election process in Nunavik, expressing skepticism about self-assessment. The organization opted for an inquiry in Nunavik’s case, rather than an audit.
Following the election, MP Mandy Gull-Masty expressed intentions to introduce legislation in response to the report’s findings to address identified shortcomings and hold Elections Canada accountable for necessary changes. Gull-Masty emphasized the importance of supporting constituents and ensuring accountability in electoral processes.