Jewish candidate, citizen decry official voting date
OTTAWA — Elections Canada is sticking with Oct. 21 — a Jewish holiday — as the date for the federal election but is vowing to work with the Jewish community to highlight other ways that observant Jews unable to vote that day can cast a ballot.
The decision not to delay the vote means thousands of observant Jews will be left on the sidelines on election day, unable to vote but also unable to help with election campaigns or assist at polling stations.
Stéphane Perrault, the chief electoral officer of Canada, rejected calls to delay the vote by a week, saying any changes at this late stage would disrupt Elections Canada’s carefully laid plans for the fall election.
Perrault said Monday that it is not in the “public interest” to change the date of the election.
“This is not a decision that I make lightly, but with a view to providing the broadest possible range of accessible voting services to the population at large,” he said. “I am committed to continuing to work with the Jewish community to maximize voting options within the existing calendar in ways that are convenient and consistent with their religious beliefs.”
Federal legislation had set the date of the next federal election for Oct. 21. This year, that coincides with the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, a day when Orthodox Jews are not permitted to work or vote. Four advance polling days also fall on Jewish holidays or the Sabbath.
Two Toronto residents went to court to challenge the timing of the vote. On Monday, they voiced disappointment and frustration with Perrault’s decision, saying that logistical considerations appear to have trumped religious rights and the ability of observant Jews to fully participate in the fall vote.
“It’s not the right result,” said Ira Walfish, an Orthodox Jew who lives in the riding of York Centre.
Although Perrault now says it’s too late to make changes, concerns around the Jewish holiday were flagged to Elections Canada last year but nothing was done, Walfish said.
While Orthodox and observant Jews will be able to vote in advance polls, the Jewish holiday means they won’t be able to participate in activities on election day itself, either as campaign volunteers or scrutineers.
For Chani Aryeh-Bain, an Orthodox Jew running as the Conservative candidate in Eglinton-Lawrence, it means she won’t be able to do any work to help voters to the polls.
Aryeh-Bain, who joined the court challenge with Walfish, called it a “sad day for religious minorities living in Canada.”
The application to the Federal Court sought to delay the election by a week to Oct. 28. Last week, Justice Ann Marie McDonald ordered Elections Canada to review its decision.
Marco Mendicino, the Liberal incumbent in Eglinton-Lawrence, called Perrault’s decision “regrettable” on Twitter.
Michael Mostyn, the chief executive officer of B’nai Brith Canada, which had intervener status in the court case, called Perrault’s decision “unreasonable.”
But with little chance now of moving this year’s election date, he said the organization would be working with Elections Canada and the political parties to avoid a repeat in the future.