Greater access to voting, democracy needed for coastal communities

Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus is calling for remedies to what he calls "voting problems" in the coastal communities of northern Ontario.
While the date of the next election remains unknown, Angus said now is the time to get prepared so First Nations members can take part in their democratic right to vote.
Angus has written to Canada's Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand, to extend advance polling opportunities for James Bay communities.
While urban voters routinely have the opportunity to take part in advance polls should they not be available on election day, such is not the case in northern First Nations.
Under the current system, those who are unable to vote on election day either have to sacrifice their vote or take prohibitively expensive flights out of their communities to the nearest advance polling station, Angus explained.
"Advance polls provide a crucial opportunity to ensure Canadians are fully able to exercise their right to vote," Angus said. "Our communities on the James Bay coast should have similar opportunities to exercise their democratic franchise."
Angus has proposed during the next election campaign, a mobile, rotating advance poll be brought into each of the remote communities. He said this will create greater confidence in the process of voting among First Nation residents and will increase civic participation.
"Traditional activities, including the annual fall hunt, take the residents of these First Nations away from the community for days at a time, meaning a disproportionate number of residents are unable to cast a ballot in general elections."