THUNDER BAY— Despite being evacuated from their homes less than two weeks before the federal election, voters from Neskantaga First Nation will have the chance to cast a ballot.
Elections Canada workers have rushed to get polling stations set up for the evacuees in Thunder Bay.
“Elections Canada is pretty darn thorough and we're not interested in disenfranchising even one citizen, so that's why we're doing it,” said Dale Mason, the returning officer for Thunder Bay-Superior North.
"It's our duty to serve every Canadian," he said.
Evacuated community members have until 6 p.m. Tuesday to vote by special ballot at the Thunder Bay--Rainy River Elections Canada office (formerly Agnew H. Johnston Public School) at 145 Churchill Dr. W.
Although the community is located in a different riding, Thunder Bay-Superior North, that location is much closer to the hotels where the evacuees are being housed.
On election day, community members will also be able to vote at the Valhalla Inn from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. A polling station will be run there by two people who assisted in evacuating the community.
“If they're displaced and we have a method in which we can provide them with a poll, then we should do it and we do,” Mason said.
Community members were evacuated from Neskantaga April 16 following the state of emergency declared three days earlier due to the closure of their only medical facility. The nursing station is a multi-faceted facility with an emergency department, multiple exam rooms, as well as spaces for dental care, public health, radiography, a pharmacy and other services.
Posters with information about the federal election have been passed out to community members and staff.
“Hopefully everybody who's an evacuee in Thunder Bay has seen this poster already,” said Mason.
A regular polling station will also be set up in the community on election day for residents who are still in Neskantaga.
Electoral officers are proud to help make sure that everyone can vote, said Mason.
