Indigenous Politics (IndigPoli) is a political blog that shares information and promotes Indigenous involvement in politics through this blog and social media. .
This includes creating awareness of Indigenous candidates in Federal, Provincial, local and First Nations, Métis and Inuit elections.
We also provide information and statistics on Indigenous participation in elections, when we have the data.
Don Rusnak, Liberal Party of Canada candidate for Thunder Bay - Rainy River
Don Rusnak is Anishinaabe and is the Liberal Party of Canada’s
candidate for Thunder Bay – Rainy River in Ontario.
Background and Experience
- Don is a lawyer in Thunder Bay who has extensive
experience in forestry industry, public sector and through his own private
practice.
- He has been the interim Executive Director for the Grand
Council of Treaty 3 which represents dozens of Anishinabe First Nations in
northwestern Ontario.
- Don previously worked for Manitoba Health helping to
improve healthcare delivery services for northern Manitoba communities. He worked
for Alberta Justice as a Crown Prosecutor for both criminal and regulatory
offences.
- He has volunteered and supported a number of organizations
including Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative, Canadian Cancer Society, the
Dew Drop In Centre and Harbour Youth Services of Thunder Bay to name a few. - Don studied Political Science at Lakehead University and went on to finish his legal education at the University of Manitoba and Osgoode Hall Law School.
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Riding History
- Thunder Bay - Rainy River is northwestern Ontario that
starts at Thunder Bay, straddles the U.S. border to the Lake of the Woods.
- It has a history of electing NDP and Liberal MPs, the current
MP is NDP MP John Rafferty he has been the NDP’s Critic for Pensions.
- Former Chief Georjann Morriseau of the Fort William First
Nation originally was a candidate but removed her name to run again for Chief,
she is now a Councillor.
- The Aboriginal population of Thunder Bay – Rainy River is
10,765 or 13.4% (2011 Census) and include numbers several Anishinabe First
Nations.
Make sure you are not caught unready, cast your vote and exercise your opinion on who the next government of Canada should be.
The Fair Elections Act has changed how voting takes place in Canada, Indigenous leaders have expressed this law will make it more difficult to vote. Our Indigenous Voter's Guide may help you overcome those barriers.
If you are unsure or want clarity of the process, contact toll free 1-800-463-6868 or visit their website: www.elections.ca.
The official election date is Oct. 19, 2015, you may be thinking that you have plenty of time, now is the time to ensure you have what is required to cast your vote.
Watch this quick overview "Get Ready to Vote"
VOTERS CHECK LIST
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_______________________________________________
The sooner you start this process the better.Checking if your registered, registering and ensuring you have the correct ID to vote (there are options) will help overcome challenges that could happen when you go to cast your vote.
REGISTER TO VOTE
First step is to check if you are registered at your current address by visiting www.elections.ca/register, if you are registered early you will get a Voter Information Card in the mail that tells you where and when to vote.
If you are not registered:
-Register online www.elections.ca/register and provide your Driver's License or Provincial/Territorial ID card.
There are three options, for the ID you will need to vote and register.
1) Show one of these
pieces of ID
•your driver's licence
•your provincial or territorial ID card
any other government card
with your photo, name and current address
2) Show two pieces
of ID
At least one must have
your current address
Indigenous Specific ID Options
•Indian status card
•band membership card
•Métis card
•card issued by an Inuit local authority
With a completed Letter of Confirmation of Residence Form from a First Nations band or reserve or an Inuit local authority. This can also be written on the administration's letter head. This can be proof of address along with any other of the pieces of ID in this list.
Here is a Letter of Confirmation of Residence (word template) designed by the Assembly of First Nations that band administrators can adept to their own use for their members.
Continued list of options for secondary ID (including above)
•health card
•Canadian passport
•birth certificate
•certificate of Canadian citizenship
•citizenship card
•social insurance number card
•Canadian Forces identity card
•Veterans Affairs health card
•old age security card
•hospital card
•medical clinic card
•label on a prescription container
•identity bracelet issued by a hospital or long-term care
facility
•blood donor card
•CNIB card
•credit card
•debit card
•employee card
•student identity card
•public transportation card
•library card
•liquor identity card
•parolee card
•firearms licence
•licence or card issued for fishing, trapping or hunting
•utility bill (e.g. electricity; water; telecommunications
services including telephone, cable or satellite)
•bank statement
•credit union statement
•credit card statement
•personal cheque
•government statement of benefits
•government cheque or cheque stub
•pension plan statement
•residential lease or sub-lease
•mortgage contract or statement
•income tax assessment
•property tax assessment or evaluation
•vehicle ownership
•insurance certificate, policy or statement
•correspondence issued by a school, college or university
•letter from a public curator, public guardian or public trustee
•targeted revision form from Elections Canada to residents of
long-term care facilities
•letter of
confirmation of residence,
letter of stay, admission form or statement of benefits from one of the
following designated establishments:
student
residence,seniors' residence,
long-term care facility,
shelter andsoup kitchen
Note: Elections
Canada accepts e-statements and e-invoices. Print them or show them on a mobile
device. Note: Elections Canada also accept expired ID that appears on this list
3) If your ID does
not have your current address, take an oath
•Show two pieces of
ID with your name and have someone who knows you attest to your address. This
person must show proof of identity and address, be registered in the same
polling division, and attest for only one person.
________________________________________________________ HOW TO VOTE - FOUR OPTIONS
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Vote on election
day – Monday, October 19
Polls are open for 12
hours.
If you're registered, you
will get a voter
information card by mail. It tells you when and where to vote. You
should receive it by October 1.
Vote on advance
voting days
There are four advance
voting days. Polls are open from noon to 8:00 p.m.
If you find it more
convenient, you can vote at any Elections Canada office across Canada.
Visit the office before
the deadline of Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 p.m. (local time) . Offices
are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Bring
your proof of identity and address.
If you will be travelling
outside your riding, or if you find it more convenient, you can vote by mail –
apply now.
Apply as soon as possible,
to allow time for your voting kit to reach you and for your marked ballot to
reach Elections Canada by election day.
The deadline to apply to
vote by mail is Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time for anyone
applying online or sending their application to Elections Canada in Ottawa.
Want to vote by mail
but can't apply online?
You can apply to vote by
mail by visiting any Elections Canada office or mailing in an application form.
Forms are available at any Elections Canada office or Canadian embassy, high
commission or consulate, or by calling Elections Canada.
(If you apply through a local Elections Canada office, the deadline to apply is
Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 p.m. local time.)
Election Canada is the final authority on what is required to vote, if you have any questions contact them at 1-800-463-6868 or visit www.elections.ca
Elections Canada offices at select campuses, youth centres and Friendship Centres
Elections Canada is opening offices at several campuses, youth centres and Friendship Centres to help make the voting process more accessible.
Visit an office to register, vote and get information.
Offices will be open from Monday, October 5 to Thursday, October 8.
Anyone can use these offices, even if they are temporarily away from their riding (for example, an eligible voter who has moved to a new city to attend university or a student from a different campus).
Voting will be by special ballot. Votes will count in the riding where the voter's home address is located.
____________________________________________________________________________ The Power of the Indigenous Vote How First Nation, Metis and Inuit people can influence who is the next Prime Minister of Canada and if he/she has majority or minority government.
IndigPoli compares Aboriginal population to Canadian citizen population as the percent of Aboriginal people in each the new 338 ridings based off of the 2011 Census NHS. Includes 38 ridings where the Aboriginal population is 10%+ or more of total population, 48 ridings where the Aboriginal population is 5%+ of total population. Then a riding-by-riding breakdown in each province of the Aboriginal population compared to Canadian citizen population.
There has been thorough dialogue amongst Indigenous people on whether First Nation, Metis and Inuit people should be participating in mainstream Canadian election. By way of this blog and our social media activities, we are of the opinion that Indigenous people should vote and run as candidates for the various parties. The perfect example of the power of one vote was enacted by the late Elijah Harper. As a lone MLA in the Manitoba legislature, his actions would lead to the downfall of the Meech Lake Accord. The Meech Lake Accord's proposed constitutional amendments would have seen increased powers for Quebec and the provinces with little or no acknowledgment of Indigenous rights.
Watch: Legacy of Elijah Harper
Elijah Harper is a great example of why each and every vote counts. Eric Grenier who runs the poll aggregator and seat projection site ThreeHundredEight wrote in an article in the Globe and Mail that if there was a higher native voter turnout, we had the potential reduce the current majority government to a minority government.
We can overcome the challenges and barriers to ensure that Indigenous people have the ability to exercise our right to vote and make that vote count.
The recent "Fair" Elections Act has made it more difficult for Indigenous people to exercise their right to vote. Particularly as it relates registration, identification and access to polling stations. Below we will provide information and resources to assist with taking the steps leading up the election and finally casting your vote. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please feel free to contact us if you have additional information or comments, suggestions or corrections on the information that we have provided. Special thanks to Tania Cameron who helped with our first voting guide.
