Polling station - The Canadian Press

By The Canadian Press

Several First Nations polling stations fail to open

Sep 20, 2021 | 3:57 PM

OTTAWA, ONT. — Elections Canada says polling stations on several First Nations opened late, or not at all on election day.

In a statement, the agency says two polling locations in Indigenous communities in the Alberta riding of Grand Prairie-Mackenzie were locked and could not be opened to voters until 1 p-m., after facilities staff were located.

One polling station in Yekooche (yeh-KOO’-chee) First Nation in B-C has not opened at all so far.

Meanwhile, Elections Canada relocated a polling station in Brantford-Brant in Ontario after a protest by the Haudenosaunee (hoh-dee-noh-SHOH’-nee) Confederacy Chiefs Council barred anyone from entering.

In a statement last week, the confederacy called the government’s decision to open a polling station on the First Nation a treaty violation.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Although most polling stations elsewhere opened without incident, Elections Canada also noted several other disruptions, including special arrangements that had to be made in Toronto-area ridings to manage the flow of voters while respecting COVID-19 safety measures.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.