Tomorrow (Thursday, April 6) is the deadline for residents of the Town of Gaultois to return ballots for the vote on relocation. Approximately one month has been provided to residents to return ballots. A similar timeframe will be provided to ensure all ballots, post-marked on or before April 6, have been returned.

At that time a count of the ballots will be conducted by an independent third party. Therefore, it is anticipated that the results of the vote will be released in early May 2023, first to residents of Gaultois, followed by a media release.

If the vote is opposed to relocation, government’s consideration of the relocation request will stop. If the vote is in favour of relocation, meaning 75 per cent or more of voting-age permanent residents wish to relocate, there are a number of steps that will follow, as outlined in the Community Relocation Policy. These steps are anticipated to occur over a period of several months. A relocation date will be determined in consultation with the community.

The Community Relocation Policy provides the step-by-step process for relocation, which is led by the community. Before a vote is considered or can proceed, each resident in a community submits an expression of interest ballot and support for relocation needs to be close to 75 per cent for a vote to take place.

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