Leave to Vote Policy

Policy Statement

Eligible employees will be provided paid time off, where necessary, in order to vote in a Municipal, Provincial or Federal Election.

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Application

This policy applies to all employees of Government departments.

Bargaining unit employees should also consult their respective collective agreements and the provisions of the collective agreement shall prevail.

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Definitions

Election an election or by-election of persons to serve a Municipal Council, the Provincial House of Assembly or the Federal Parliament of Canada
Eligible Employee a person qualified to vote in an election

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Responsibilities

Department
It is the responsibility of individual departments to:

  • allow eligible employees necessary time off to vote in accordance with the appropriate Act; and
  • determine the specific hours for which paid time off to vote will be approved, where paid time off is necessary, in consultation with the employee.

Employee
Employees are encouraged to notify their supervisors, prior to the day of the election, that they require time off to vote.

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Municipal and Provincial Elections

Eligible employees are entitled to 4 consecutive hours to vote during the period of time in which the polls are open, as per the Elections Act, 1991 and the Municipal Elections Act.

Where employees’ scheduled hours of work do not allow for adequate time to vote, the Employer, upon request, will allow employees the necessary paid time off for the purposes of voting, up to 4 consecutive hours.

Where paid time off is necessary, the Employer, in consultation with the employee, will determine the specific hours for which paid time off to vote will be approved.

Time off to vote, to a maximum of 4 hours, will not be deducted from employees’ pay.

In elections where the option of mail-in ballots and polling stations both exist, employees will still be entitled to 4 consecutive hours to vote during the period of time in which the polls are open, provided that the employees have not previously voted by a mail-in ballot option.

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Federal Elections

Eligible employees are entitled to 3 consecutive hours to vote during the period of time in which the polls are open as per the Canada Elections Act.

Where employees’ scheduled hours of work do not allow for adequate time to vote, the Employer, upon request, will allow employees the necessary paid time off for the purposes of voting, up to 3 consecutive hours. 

Where paid time off is necessary, the Employer, in consultation with the employee, will determine the specific hours for which paid time off to vote will be approved.

Time off to vote, to a maximum of 3 hours, will not be deducted from employees’ pay.

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Last Policy Update: February 2, 2007