NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO NDP
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STAR LAKE - Ontario NDP Candidates Gilles Bisson (Timmins) and Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk-James Bay) teamed up with residents of Star Lake to raise their concerns about the voting process for residents due to the changes in the electoral boundaries.
“Residents of Star Lake need to travel 2 hours, through Timmins, to Fauquier or Kapuskasing for them to reach their polling station” Bourgouin said.
“Voters shouldn’t have to travel long distances to be able to cast their ballots on June 7” said Bisson.
“When the riding boundaries changed, Star Lake was not included in the Timmins riding, instead it was grouped with everything else, putting Timmins between Star Lake and the rest of the Mushkegowuk-James Bay riding.”
Bisson is the current MPP for Timmins-James Bay, which includes the individuals living at Star Lake, Timmins, as well as those along the Highway 11 corridor from Smooth Rock Falls to Constance Lake.
On January 1, 2018, the electoral district of Timmins-James Bay was divided into two separate electoral districts: Timmins, which consists of the city of Timmins and Mushkegowuk-James Bay, consisting of the former Timmins-James Bay riding, excluding the city of Timmins.
“I’ve been in touch with Elections Ontario and due to the current legislation, they are unable to fix this situation in a way to allow Star Lake voters to vote at a polling station in Timmins, which is only 30 minutes away, so they have no choice but to order a special ballot and vote by mail” said Bisson.
“If voters need a special ballot, they should contact Elections Ontario at 416-649-1046 as soon as possible so they can submit them in time for June 7”
“When we form government, we will review the boundary changes that were put into effect earlier this year so that these situations don’t happen again” said Bourgouin.
“This situation is forcing people to vote by mail instead of voting at a polling station as they have traditionally done so we are out here today to tell voters about how they can order their special ballots”
Special ballots must be ordered through Elections Ontario and must received no later than 6PM on election day, June 7.
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