GTA school boards express concern about on-site voting for federal election
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing where and how people across the Greater Toronto Area will vote for a new federal government on Sept. 20.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), where around 100 locations were being considered, made the decision not to allow polling stations at its schools.
“When we have thousand of people coming in and out of the building. Some are vaccinated. Some are not. Who knows,” said TCDSB Chair Joseph Martino, who voted not to host polling stations.
Martino added that he could support some voting at some schools, however most of the locations on the list were elementary schools.
“Can we clean the space in time, do we have kids coming through some of those areas? I worry about that. My biggest thing is to make sure they are safe, staff are safe and I do not think that is possible.”
Ward 2 Trustee Markus de Demenico told CTV News Toronto he supported allowing voters after it was vetted through Toronto Public Health.
“That under very stringent guidelines we would allow certain schools to be polling stations. In other words, schools that had a completely separate entrance. No access from the public to the student body or employees and have thorough sanitation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Toronto District School Board said it’s working with Elections Canada to use some schools, and expects to know more in the coming days.
The Durham District School Board said Elections Canada is moving forward with alternate locations, while the Durham Catholic District School Board said Elections Canada advised it doesn’t plan to use their schools this time around.
At Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, a PA day was moved at almost all of its elementary schools to accommodate polling stations.
A decision at Peel District School Board whether to allow voting is pending.
Elections Canada said while school polling station locations may be influx it says polling locations have been secured.
VOTING BY MAIL
More people are voting by mail in this election.
Elections Canada said that about 50,000 people cast a ballot through the post in 2019. This time around 345,000 kits have been issued so far — up by almost 50,000 since Monday.
To vote by mail, people need to apply online by Sept. 14 at 6 P.M., write the name of the candidate on a ballot and send it so it’s received by Sept. 20.
Elections Canada is asking people to check the Elections Canada website and their voter information card to see where they should vote.
Anyone who requests a mail in ballot can also bring the ballot to their own local polling station and drop it off if they are concerned it won’t make it in time through the mail.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.