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.

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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.