Latest news with #NathalieSinclair-Desgagné
Toronto Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Inside Canada's election recount process: What voters should know
One vote. That's what ultimately separated the Liberals from the Bloc Québécois in the Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne after a judicial recount. On election night, April 28, unofficial results showed Liberal Tatiana Auguste defeating Bloc incumbent Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné by 35 votes. But after a required postelection validation process, Sinclair-Desgagné took the lead by 44 votes — triggering an automatic judicial recount due to the narrow margin. The recount process wrapped up on May 10, confirming Auguste as the winner. Her victory gave the Liberals 170 seats in the House of Commons — just two short of the 172 needed for a majority government — and ended weeks of back-and-forth in the riding. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW However, what may have looked like results swinging between the two candidates is actually evidence of a 'rigorous' democratic process, said Randy Besco, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. 'Sometimes people describe this as the result changing — that's not correct,' he said. 'The result is the result. There's only one. It's just that now we know for sure what the correct one is.' Following the final result in Terrebonne, three more judicial recounts are underway. One began Monday in Newfoundland and Labrador's Terra Nova—The Peninsulas riding. Another is in progress in Ontario's Milton East—Halton Hills South. A third, in Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, is scheduled to begin May 20. Federal Politics Live chat: The Conservative party, Carney's cabinet and politics in 2025 Star staff Here's what to know about the official recount process. How are recounts triggered? In the days following an election, Elections Canada officials validate the preliminary results by checking if the correct number of ballots were counted and reported accurately. This validation takes place in every riding, no matter how close the race is. Errors can be made in the initial reporting, Elections Canada said in an email, because results are phoned in to the returning officer. 'The staff at the returning officer's office could mishear one of the results being phoned in or make a typo when entering the reported result into the system,' Matthew McKenna, a spokesperson for Elections Canada said. 'The validation process exists because these sorts of errors can happen.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW If the margin between the top two candidates is less than one one-thousandth of all valid votes, a judicial recount is automatically triggered. However, a judicial recount can also be requested by any voter — typically by the losing candidate. In this case, they must first notify the returning officer in writing, then file a request with a judge. They then also need to provide evidence supporting their claim and pay a $250 deposit. Irek Kusmierczyk, the Liberal incumbent in Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, lost to his Conservative rival by just 77 votes in the federal election, but was granted a judicial recount after submitting a request. 'The bar is fairly low,' Besco said. 'But judges don't always agree.' How does the 'rigorous' process work? A recount can be done in three ways: by the judge totalling up the reported results from each voting location, recounting only properly marked ballots or recounting all ballots, including rejected, spoiled or unused ones. The judge then totals the ballots cast for each candidate, depending on the chosen procedure. A ballot is spoiled if it's damaged or filled out incorrectly and replaced before being cast. A rejected ballot is submitted but not counted because it's improperly marked or the voter's intent is unclear. The judge oversees the recount, though Besco said it's mostly Elections Canada staff counting the tens of thousands of ballots. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'They might have like ten or twenty teams of people with the ballots out on tables in a big room, and they just count them off,' he said. At any point, the judge can end the recount if the person who requested it submits a written withdrawal — unless it's an automatic recount, which must proceed. As Elections Canada staff tear off part of each ballot during the election to collect a receipt, they know how many votes were cast. During a recount, they ensure the number of ballots matches the original count. 'What they're looking for usually is math errors,' Besco said. 'They have to make sure they actually haven't missed any.' Another key part of a recount, Besco said, is reviewing whether ballots were marked correctly. Recount teams examine any ballots rejected or spoiled on election night, and everyone present — returning officer, candidates, two candidate reps not on the recount team, legal counsel for the candidates and the chief electoral officer — must unanimously agree for one to be counted. If they can't agree, the judge — who can hear reasoning from both parties — makes the final decision on whether the ballot should count. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'There is a little bit of judgment there,' Besco said. 'That's why sometimes the number of votes is slightly different.' How often do recounts happen? Judicial recounts aren't 'unusual,' Besco said — a few will typically occur after every federal election. In 2021, there were two recounts. One flipped the result in Châteauguay–Lacolle to the Liberals, while the other confirmed the Bloc Québécois win in Trois-Rivières. Two additional recounts were requested but later withdrawn. 'Two-to-four recounts is pretty standard,' Besco said. 'If you keep rolling a dice, eventually you're going to get a one, and eventually we're going to get a very close riding.' Why are recounts important? For Besco, recounts are a crucial device to ensure the 'right winner.' 'We need to be sure that the people who are elected are actually the people that won,' he said. 'It's also important that everybody knows and sees that it is correct.' Despite the Liberals inching closer to a majority, they'll be shy of 172 seats if they win all remaining recounts. Two of the seats are already Liberal-held, with Kusmierczyk the only candidate trying to flip one. Still, Besco said the thorough, robust and, sometimes, drawn-out process is key to maintaining trust in the election's outcome. 'I think Canadians have a lot of faith in our elections,' he said, 'and that's a great thing about Canada.'
Hamilton Spectator
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Judicial recounts in Windsor, Milton ridings this week among 4 ordered for federal election
One vote. That's all that separates the Liberals from the Bloc Québécois in a recent Quebec riding vote recount. On Wednesday, May 7, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Stéphane Perrault announced the judicial recount in the electoral district of Terrebonne. Initially, the election night figures showed incumbent Bloc Québécois MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné beat Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste by 44 votes. A judicial recount — which is overseen by a judge — is mandatory if the difference between the number of votes cast between the top candidate and the runner up is less than one one-thousandth of the valid votes cast. Following the recount this weekend , it was determined Auguste received 23,352 votes — one vote more than Sinclair-Desgagné. The recount now puts the Liberals at 170 seats in the House of Commons, with 172 seats needed in order to have a majority government. Elections Canada has also announced three other recounts. A judicial recount is happening today, May 12, in Terra Nova—The Peninsulas , a Newfoundland and Labrador riding. The difference between the two leading candidates was 12 votes, Elections Canada said in a press release. And two recounts have been ordered in Ontario. One is happening in the Milton East—Halton Hills South riding on May 13. The difference between the two leading candidates is 29 votes. Currently, Liberal Kristina Tesser Derksen sits with 32,130 votes , while Conservative Pam Gill has 32,101 votes. Another judicial recount is also set to take place in the Windsor—Tecumseh — Lakeshore riding on Tuesday, May 20. There are 77 votes separating Conservative Kathy Borrelli (32,062 votes) and Liberal Irek Kusmierczyk (31,985 votes). According to , that Windsor recount was requested by the Liberal candidate, who has more than a dozen affidavits from scrutineers who allegedly witnessed ballots rejected that they say were valid. With the Liberals already leading in the Milton and Newfoundland and Labrador ridings, even if the recounts all went to the Liberals, the party would still fall one riding short of a majority government.
Montreal Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Terrebonne riding recount begins Thursday: Elections Canada
Canadian Politics A judicial recount of the votes in Quebec's Terrebonne riding will begin Thursday, chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault announced on Wednesday. The count, conducted by Justice Danielle Turcotte of the Superior Court of Quebec's Terrebonne district, will be carried out at 3235 de la Gare Ave. in Mascouche, and the result published on after it is complete. On election night, the riding's lead swung back and forth, and final preliminary results showed a narrow 25-vote win for Liberal challenger Tatiana Auguste. But when the tallies were validated, they showed a 44-vote lead for Bloc Québécois MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné. A judicial recount is triggered automatically when the margin of victory is less than 0.1 per cent of valid votes cast. Elections Canada's validated results indicate that 60,204 valid votes were cast in the riding and 903 ballots were rejected. Preliminary results said there were 60,130 valid votes. Terrebonne election results Validated results, before judicial recount. Rejected ballots: 903 (1.5%) Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Bloc Québécois): 23,340 (38.8%) Tatiana Auguste (Liberal Party of Canada): 23,296 (38.7%) Adrienne Charles (Conservative Party of Canada): 10,956 (18.2%) Maxime Beaudoin (New Democratic Party): 1,552 (2.6%) Benjamin Rankin (Green Party of Canada): 632 (1.0%) Maria Cantore (People's Party of Canada): 428 (0.7%) Perrault also announced that 822 national special ballots were mistakenly kept at the office of the returning officer in British Columbia's Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam riding, and according to the law cannot be counted. The ballots were mainly for that riding (530) or neighbouring ridings, but a total of 74 ridings nationwide had at least one cast ballot affected. Terrebonne is not one of them.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
The final Canada election result has a twist in the tail, Liberals on the receiving end
Just when the dust seemed to settle on the Canada 2025 federal election , a late twist has jolted the political landscape, leaving the Bloc smiling. The Liberal Party has lost a crucial seat in Quebec following a vote validation process in a dramatic postscript to Canada's 2025 federal election. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India's Rafale-M deal may turn up the heat on Pakistan China's support for Pakistan may be all talk, no action India brings grounded choppers back in action amid LoC tensions The loss reduces the Mark Carney-led Liberal Party's count from 169 to 168 seats, four short of a majority in the 343-seat House of Commons. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo The Terrebonne riding , initially declared a Liberal win by a narrow 35-vote margin, has now been awarded to Bloc Québécois incumbent Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné after a 44-vote lead was confirmed. 'One Terrebonne voter wrote on Facebook, 'We watched the results twice, couldn't believe it either time. This recount is nerve-wracking.' Live Events Elections Canada 's validation process uncovered discrepancies that led to the seat flip. Given the slim margin, an official judicial recount will be conducted, as mandated when a candidate's victory margin is less than 0.1% of the total votes cast, according to Bloc spokesperson Joanie Riopel. Sinclair-Desgagné expressed cautious optimism on social media, thanking supporters and emphasizing the importance of the upcoming recount. The outcome in Terrebonne is crucial, as it affects the Liberals' ability to form a majority government. With this, the Bloc jumps to 23 seats. "Thank you for your continued support and let's pay attention to what follows. I hope to have the honour of representing Terrebonne once again," she wrote in French. The election saw the Liberals, under new leader Mark Carney , secure 168 seats with 43.7% of the popular vote. The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre , won 144 seats and 41.3% of the vote. Notably, Poilievre lost his seat in Carleton to Liberal newcomer Bruce Fanjoy, marking a significant personal and political setback Carney is scheduled to hold his first post-election press conference on Friday at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, where he is expected to address government priorities and the implications of the recount. Elections Canada uses the validation procedure, which is distinct from an official recount, to confirm the unofficial results that are announced on election night. To eliminate any possible mistakes, each local returning officer reviews the results submitted by every polling place. "When you're talking about hundreds or thousands of polling locations and lots of results coming in, errors can happen. Whether it's something that gets misheard on the phone or somebody accidentally types in the wrong number on the keyboard," said Matthew McKenna, a spokesperson for Elections Canada. The loss in Terrebonne shows the fragile nature of Carney's minority government , and he will need to seek support from other parties to pass legislation.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Liberals lose closely contested seat to Bloc Québécois after vote validation
The Liberals have dropped one seat after Elections Canada's validation process determined they lost a tightly contested Quebec riding. Terrebonne, just north of Montreal, was one of the last ridings to be called on Tuesday afternoon. The final vote count had the Liberals flip the seat from the Bloc Québécois by 35 votes. But Elections Canada is now reporting that, after double-checking the numbers during its validation process, the Bloc in fact held the riding by a margin of 44 votes. The flip pulls the Liberals — who fell just a few seats short of a majority government — down to 168 seats and the Bloc jumps to 23 seats. Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, the Bloc incumbent for the riding, wrote in a Facebook post that she's cautiously optimistic but will be waiting for a judicial recount. "Thank you for your continued support and let's pay attention to what follows. I hope to have the honour of representing Terrebonne once again," she wrote in French. Validation is not a recount The validation process — which is different from an official recount — is a way for Elections Canada to verify the unofficial results that are reported on election night. Each local returning officer goes through the results reported by each polling station to weed out any potential errors. "When you're talking about hundreds of or thousands of polling locations and lots of results coming in, errors can happen. Whether it's something gets misheard on the phone or somebody accidentally types in the wrong number on the keyboard," Matthew McKenna, a spokesperson for Elections Canada, told CBC News before election day. "The returning officer for each riding goes through the statements of the vote from every poll and makes sure that that's checked against the records so that we can adjust for any little errors or mistakes." Even after the validation process, the race was so close that it will trigger an official recount. Such a recount is overseen by a judge and is automatically triggered if a candidate wins by less than 0.1 per cent of the overall vote. Official recounts have flipped ridings in the past. In 2021, the Bloc candidate was declared the winner of the then-named riding of Châteauguay-Lacolle. But an official recount two weeks later gave the victory to the Liberals. An official recount will also be triggered in the N.L. riding of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas, where the Liberal candidate edged out the Conservative by 12 votes.
