2024 By-Election
The Municipality of South Bruce will be holding a By-election, on October 28th, to submit a question on the ballot (also known as a referendum) relating to the proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR). Council passed a resolution to maintain the use of the telephone and internet alternate voting methods for the 2024 by-election.
The Voting Period began on October 21st at 10:00 a.m. and closed October 28th at 8:00 PM.
Are you on the Voters’ list?
It is your responsibility to ensure you are on the list.
Ensure you are on the Voters List for the 2024 Referendum By-Election by contacting the Municipal office.
Visit: 21 Gordon St. E, Teeswater
Call: 519-392-6623
Email: election@southbruce.ca
Attend a Revision Centre
How can you be added to the Voter's List?
If you are an eligible elector and are not on the Voters’ List, you must attend in person with acceptable identification and complete an EL15 form at a Revision Centre.
Revisions Centres:
- Revisions can also be made at the South Bruce Municipal office weekdays (excluding holidays), 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; or
- at a Voter Assistance Center
EL15 Application To Amend Voters List
We encourage you to check if you are on the voters' list before the voting day.
Voter Assistance Centres:
Revisions will also be taken at the Voter Assistance Centers. Locations and times of the Centres’ hours of operation are below:
Mildmay-Carrick Station Fire Hall, 9 Absalom Street East, Mildmay, Ontario
- Monday, October 21, 2024 – 10:00am-4:30pm
- Tuesday, October 22, 2024 – 9:00am-4:30pm
- Wednesday, October 23, 2024 – 12:00pm-7:00pm
- Sunday, October 27, 2024 - 12:00pm-4:00pm
- Monday, October 28, 2024 - 9:00am-8:00pm
Council Chambers, Municipal Office, 21 Gordon Street East, Teeswater, Ontario
- Wednesday, October 23, 2024 – 12:00pm-7:00pm
- Thursday October 24, 2024 – 9:00am-4:30pm
- Friday October 25, 2024 - 9:00am-4:30pm
- Saturday October 26, 2024– 12:00pm-4:00pm
- Monday, October 28, 2024 – 9:00am-8:00pm
Who can Vote? Voter Eligibility Information
The voter eligibility requirements for a By-election are the same as a regular Municipal Election and are set out below:
Anyone can vote in a municipal by-election who, on the day of the by-election:
- resides in the municipality of South Bruce or is the owner or tenant of land there, or the spouse or same sex partner of such owner or tenant;
- is a Canadian citizen;
- is at least 18 years old; and
- is not otherwise prohibited from voting.
Your name must be on the Voters’ List in order for you to cast a ballot and it is your responsibility to ensure your name appears on the list.
By-Election Question
The Municipal Elections Act outlines specific requirements, how the vote is conducted, and whether it is binding. In accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 ("MEA"/"the Act"), a municipal council must pass a by-law to submit a question. The question must be a clearly worded yes or no question. The vote is binding with at least 50% voter turnout.
Council passed a by-law with the referendum question at it’s meeting April 23, 2024. Notice of the Passing of the By-Law was issued April 24, 2024 and no appeals were received. The referendum question is:
Are you in favour of the Municipality of South Bruce declaring South Bruce to be a willing host for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR)?
How to Vote
Council voted to continue the use of electronic voting via phone and internet for the 2024 by-election, as permitted under the Municipal Elections Act. The Municipality of South Bruce has used internet and telephone voting in local elections since 2010.
Detailed information on how to vote will be available closer to the voting period.
Scrutineers - Accepting Expressions of Interest
Seeking Scrutineers for the 2024 Municipal By-election - Question on the Ballot (Referendum)
The Municipality of South Bruce Council are seeking Expressions of Interest for the following:
- to be a scrutineer in support of a "yes" answer to the question on the ballot in the 2024 by-election; and
- to be a scrutineer in support of a "no" answer to the question on the ballot in the 2024 by-election.
Applicants must adhere to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and the Clerk's Procedures.
Municipal Elections ActElection Policies And Procedure Manual
2024 Application To Be A Scrutineer
The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. on September 18, 2024.
All applications must be received by the Clerk, by the deadline.
Applications can be submitted to the Clerk's Department:
by email: election@southbruce.ca
In Person, via dropbox or by regular letter mail:
21 Gordon St. E. Box 540
Teeswater, ON N0G 2S0
Or Mildmay dropbox located at Mac's
Information about being a Scrutineer
There is no compensation for acting as a scrutineer.
Scrutineers are entitled to the following:
- to be present in the Receiving Location (Council Chambers, Municipal Office), from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on October 21, 2024 prior to the opening of polling to verify and ensure that the Question is listed and the total votes cast are at “0” (Zero), and to sign the Activation of Voting System form (SV01) to attest to this fact.
- to be present at any Voter Assistance Centre during hours of operation to observe the process.
- to be present in the Receiving Location, at the time when results are announced.
Before being admitted to a Voter Assistance Centre or the Receiving Location, Scrutineers shall produce satisfactory identification and take the Oral Oath of Secrecy (EL13 and EL12B).
Use of mobile communication devices and cameras shall not be permitted within any Voter Assistance Centre or the Receiving Location by any scrutineer.
Scrutineers who do not follow the instructions of the Election Official(s) or who attempt to interfere, influence and to determine how an elector is voting will be requested to leave the Voter Assistance Centre immediately, their appointment will be revoked and they will not be permitted to re-attend at a Voter Assistance Centre or during the announcement of results. Scrutineers may also have their appointment revoked if they contravene the rules and guidelines established by the Clerk.
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Questions can be directed to the Clerk at 519-392-6623 x 235.
In accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, Council must appoint scrutineers in equal numbers for each possible answer to the question.
Council will review the submissions and may select up to two (2) scrutineers for each possible answer to the question. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
*Council reserves the right to select no applicants.
Form EL05 List Of Registered Third Party Advertisers
Third Party Advertising for the 2024 Municipal By-Election
Third party advertising refers to advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.
Third party advertising is a way for those to express support of or opposition to a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot and to try to persuade voters to vote a certain way.
A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. Advertisement includes traditional ads as well as materials such as brochures or signs.
Advertising period
The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 sets out a restricted period for third party advertising. This restricted period begins no earlier than 60 days before the by-election to the close of voting on voting day. For the 2024 Municipality of South Bruce by-election, the restricted period is August 29, 2024 to the close of voting on October 28, 2024.
If any individual or group wanted to spend money before August 29th on signs or advertisements to express support of or opposition to a "yes" or "no" answer, the third party advertising rules would not apply. However, once the restricted period begins on August 29th, any signs or other advertisements would have to be taken down or discontinued.
If you wish to register as a third party advertiser, contact the municipal office to book an appointment with the Clerk.
Dates to know:
Registration Opens: August 29, 2024 (s. 88.6 (10))
Registration Closes: October 25, 2024 until the close of business (4:30 p.m.)
Deadline to Withdraw Registration: October 25, 2024 until 4:00 p.m.
Advertising Period: The date of registration to close of voting (8:00 p.m.) on October 28, 2024
Campaign period ends: December 12, 2024
Background
Since 2012, the Municipality of South Bruce has been participating in the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)'s process to site a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel in a willing host community. South Bruce is one (1) of two (2) remaining sites being considered for the site.
The Municipality must determine whether or not the community is willing to host the Project.
South Bruce Council, in collaboration with residents, established 36 Guiding Principles in the fall of 2020 to guide the Municipality’s consideration of the Project.
Guiding Principle #9 states The Municipality will, in collaboration with community members, develop and establish an open and transparent process that will allow the community to express its level of willingness to host the Project.
As a result, the Municipality retained GHD to conduct a Willingness Study (Figure 3.1) that concluded the public preferred a referendum to express willingness.
Visit The Plan for Used Nuclear Fuel for more information.