City Clerk declares emergency under section 53 of the Municipal Election Act, 1996 to ensure the integrity of the election for the English-Separate, Waterloo Catholic District School Board

Cambridge, Ontario. (October 22, 2022) - Danielle Manton, Clerk for the City of Cambridge, is responsible for conducting the 2022 Municipal & School Board Election for the City. It has come to the Clerk’s attention that the City of Cambridge ballots applicable to the office of Trustee for the English-Separate, Waterloo Catholic District School Board did not include all six certified candidates and that two of the six were left off the ballot.

The boundaries for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (“School Board”) encompass the City of Cambridge and the Township of North Dumfries, resulting in three Trustee positions that voters in Cambridge and North Dumfries elect. The ballot designed for the City of Cambridge English-Separate, School Board Trustee election is missing the names of two candidates. This impacts ballots cast in the City of Cambridge election only and does not impact the Township of North Dumfries whose ballots include all six certified candidates for election.

The issue occurred during the ballot proofing stage. In order to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of the voting process, pursuant to section 53 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the Clerk has declared an emergency which will void any results for the English-Separate School Board election on Monday October 24, 2022.  In accordance with her authority under 12 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the Clerk has determined the need to suspend the conduct of the election of Trustees for the English-Separate School Board.  The Clerk will make such arrangements as necessary for the resumption of the election of Trustees for the English-Separate School Board, consistent with the principles of the Act as soon as possible.

To date, approximately 1,700 ballots have been cast using the City of Cambridge’s ballot for English-Separate, School Board. Cambridge voters that support the School Board are advised that votes cast for all races, except the English-Separate, School Board, are valid and will be counted towards the results of the election on Monday October 24, 2022. Only the election results for the English-Separate School Board will not be counted on Monday October 24, 2022 and Cambridge voters that support the English-Separate, School Board will be entitled to vote in the election when it resumes in November, 2022.

The results from the election for English-Separate, School Board for the Township of North Dumfries will be sealed, forwarded and retained by the City Clerk for the City of Cambridge. Following the resumption of the election in Cambridge the results for the English-Separate School Board will be compiled for Cambridge and North Dumfries to be shared publicly. 

“The decision to declare an emergency and suspend the election for the English-Separate School Board was not an easy one, but it was the only course of action” said City Clerk, Danielle Manton. “The decision, made in consultation with legal counsel, will ensure the integrity is maintained for the election for the English-Separate School Board and was made in accordance with the Clerk’s power to declare an emergency pursuant to section 53 of the Municipal Election Act, 1996.”

Further details regarding plans for the resumption of the English-Separate, Waterloo Catholic District School Board will be shared early next week and City of Cambridge voters that support the School Board will be notified of next steps for the election of Trustees for the English-Separate School Board. 

The School Board and all certified candidates for the position of Trustee have been notified of the flawed ballots for the English-Separate School Board that were printed for use in Cambridge. The School Board is in contact with the City Clerk’s office regarding next steps in resuming the election of Trustees for the English-Separate School Board.

All results for the 2022 Municipal and School Board Election, except for the position of Trustee for the English-Separate School Board, will be available on Monday October 24, 2022 after the close of voting at www.cambridge.ca

Should there be any inquiries please contact: mantond@cambridge.ca