The dates are set, and preparations are underway for the upcoming Band Council Election. More details including how and where to file nomination papers, appointment of Electoral Officer and information regarding a helpdesk to support voters who may need assistance will be issued in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, here is some important information to know:

• Members will have the option to vote electronically or by telephone. To ensure members receive their voter information package, we will need your current mailing address and/or email address. The voter information package will contain a secure PIN that will be needed to submit your ballot. Please register your current information by completing the Voter Registration Form or by updating your KINU membership profile.
• The call for nominations will open on September 23 at 8:30am and close on October 2, 2024 at 12:30pm.
• Election day has been set for October 25, 2024. Voters are reminded that voting takes place over the course of a window of time and votes can be cast online or over the phone between October 18 starting at 8am until October 25 ending at 8pm. All votes will be counted, and the election will end on October 25.
• All the latest election related information will be posted to Qalipu’s Voter Information Hub. Find it here: https://qalipu.ca/qalipu-election-hub/

As received by Electoral Officer Carol Lahey at 4:00PM on November 9, 2021 following the closing of Qalipu First Nation Byelection Call for Nominations – The Official list of Candidates for Exploits Ward Councillor are as follows:

In accordance with the Custom Rules Governing Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Elections and at the request of Electoral Officer, Carol Lahey, nominations are invited for the position of Councilor in the Electoral Ward of Exploits for the byelection to be held December 2, 2021.

Nomination forms are available for download beginning 9:00am on Monday, November 1st at www.qalipu.ca<http://www.qalipu.ca/> or pick-up at Grand Falls-Windsor Office at 28 Hardy Avenue. Nominations will close at 4:00pm Tuesday, November 9th.

Completed nomination forms must be returned to the Corner Brook office, 3 Church Street, A2H 2Z4 either by postage mail or hand delivered. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 shall be submitted with the nomination papers in the form of money order, bank draft, certified cheque, or cash. Nominations are to be received no later than 4:00PM on November 9, 2021 and will be considered as filed with the Electoral Officer for the purpose of the Band byelection to be held on December 2, 2021.
Click here to view the application

The byelection voting period will begin November 24th and end December 2nd.

Members of the Exploits Ward are encouraged to call 709-634-5163 or email elections@qalipu.ca<mailto:elections@qalipu.ca> to ensure they receive their voter information package by confirming their home address and/or email on file at Qalipu First Nation. Please ensure to leave your name and number if you go to voicemail.

Carol Lahey
Electoral Officer
clahey@qalipu.ca
709-630-7678

With the largest voter participation turn-out to date, 8,384 members of the Qalipu First Nation Mi’kmaq Band signed in to the electronic voting system via online or telephone access to cast their ballots. Welcome your Chief and Council 2021-2024.

Click here to view the 2021 Election End of Polls – Signed by Electoral Officer

Click here to view the 2021 Election End of Polls

Click here to view the 2021 Election End of Polls – Detailed Vote Count

Quick Summary of Chief and Council 2021-2024:

Chief – Brendan Mitchell

Western Vice Chief – Jennifer (Jenny) Brake

Benoit’s Cove Ward – Terri V. Greene

Exploits – No Nominations [ By-election Date TBD ]

Flat Bay – Robert (Bobby) White

Port au Port – Jasen Benwah

Stephenville – Hayward George Young

St. George’s – Ivan J. White

Won by Acclamation:

Central Vice Chief – Andrew (Andy) Barker

Corner Brook Ward – Sharren (Sherry) Dean

Gander Bay Ward – Calvin Francis

Glenwood Ward – Francis (Frank) Skeard

Referendum: Yes

The majority vote is “yes,” to change to a four-year term. These changes will come into effect during the next election in 2024. Which we will then see the 2024 Chief and Council hold a term until 2028.

Following a 30-day appeal period, per the Custom Rules governing Qalipu elections, the new Chief and Council will be sworn in and take office.

Electoral Officer, Carol Lahey 709-630-7678 or clahey@qalipu.ca

Qalipu First Nation has neared the end of their voting window for the upcoming Chief and Council. Today, Friday, October 22, 2021, at 8:00pm NL Standard Time the voting window will officially close. Members who need assistance or are looking to retrieve their voters PIN can still call into the Election Helpdesk up until 8:00pm at 1-888-281-8683. Results of the 2021 Qalipu Election, under the direction of Electoral Officer, Carol Lahey, will be posted 8:30pm NL Standard Time on October 22, 2021, at www.qalipu.ca, Qalipu First Nation Facebook Page, and @Qalipu2011 Twitter Feed.

The voting window for the 2021 Qalipu Election opened at 8:00am NL Standard Time today, October 14th and is accessible anytime until October 22nd ending at 8:00pm.

Not sure if you received your voter information package? Click Here: https://qalipu.ca/2021-voter-information-packages-enroute/

Need to contact the Election Helpdesk: 1-888-281-8683 https://qalipu.ca/election-helpdesk-now-open/

The Qalipu Election Helpdesk in now open, October 12^th and will run daily from 8:00am NL Standard time to 7:00pm until October 21^st! And will open 8:00am October 22^nd until 8:00pm.

We encourage members that are looking for their voter information packages that includes your voting PIN to first:

• Check your Email (if you had a current email listed on your GINU Membership Profile). If you do not see the email Subject “Qalipu First Nation Election, October 14-22, 2021” please proceed to check your junk or spam folders.
• Check postage mail, arriving week of October 11 to 15^th. If you did not have an email listed on your GINU profile but had your current home address listed you will receive your voter information package by postage.
• If you have no information listed on your GINU membership profile, do not have current information listed, or have not received your package via email or postage by October 15^th then please call the helpdesk at 1-888-281-8683.

A notice has been put forward to the Qalipu Electoral Officer, Carol Lahey on Saturday, October 5, 2021, at approximately 9:00AM that Candidate Rod Bennett who was nominated for Central Vice Chief has withdrawn his candidacy.  As required under Section 22 of the Custom Rules Governing Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Elections Bennett’s Letter of Withdrawal has been received by the Electoral Officer.

Due to an influx of calls to our Electoral Officer, Carol Lahey surrounding the upcoming Qalipu Election we would like to reshare previously accessible information that has been posed at www.qalipu.ca/qalipu-election-2021/, over our Social Media platforms, weekly newsletters, and radio/news advertising. A voters information package will be delivered to all members via postage mail and/or email IF you already have this information entered on your GINU Membership Profile [Click here to check your GINU Profile https://mala.qalipu.ca/ginu/login.aspx ]

Here is a summary video of important voter information:

Here is a written summary of Voter Information:

• Election Day: October 22, 2021
• Ballots will be cast by telephone (landline or cell) OR through online access
  • This form of electronic balloting was majority voted from your 2018 election referendum. This allows further accessibility to Qalipu Members who reside outside of the province or the country.
• Election Window: October 14^th through October 22^nd
  • Voting window opens at 8:00am on the 14^th
  • You can vote at ANYTIME (24rs a day)
  • Voting will end 8:00pm on the 22^nd
• Helpline Opening October 12^th through 22^nd
  • Helpline will be open daily 8:00am to 7:00pm on October 12^th to 21^st
  • On October 22^nd the helpline will be open 8:00am to 8:00pm
• Qualifications to vote:
  • 18 years or older and a registered member of Qalipu First Nation by October 22, 2021

Note: Your GINU Membership profile must have your current address and/or email address for you to receive a voters PIN. Although there will be a helpline available to aid in retrieving a PIN we advise members to update your GINU Profile information as soon as possible: https://mala.qalipu.ca/ginu/login.aspx

OR call 709-634-4010, please leave a voicemail stating your name and phone number. Call backs may not be immediate but please be patient with this process.

A full voters list can be accessed here: https://qalipu.ca/qalipu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Voters-List.pdf

• If your name is highlight in Red it could mean one of the following
  • Missing your mailing and/or civic address
    • Or the registered address is out of country and not applying an electoral ward to your profile
  • Missing your phone number and/or email address
  • Or you may have already updated your information by logging in or speaking to one of our staff but the newest updated voters list is not yet available [please check the updated date stated in the top right corner of the page i.e. “Updated: 2021-09-25”
• Casting your Ballot (via telephone or through online access that will be provided in your voters information package with your voting PIN number)
  • You will cast a ballot for Chief, Vice-Chief, and Ward Councillor (unless your ward councillor won by acclamation)
  • You will also be prompted to the 2021 Referendum Vote which states:
    • Are you in favour of amending Section 29.1 Tenure of Office, of the Custom Rules Governing Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Elections from its current stated three-year term to a four-year term in office for an elected Chief & Council?
    • If the majority vote is “yes,” to change to a four-year term, the changes will come into effect during the next election in 2024. Which we will then see the 2024 Chief and Council hold a term until 2028.
  • Electoral Officer, Carol Lahey 709-630-7678 or clahey@qalipu.ca

A notice has been put forward to the Qalipu Electoral Officer, Carol Lahey on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at approximately 10:30AM that Candidate Dean Gillingham who was nominated for the Gander Bay Ward has withdrawn his candidacy.  As required under Section 22 of the Custom Rules Governing Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Elections Gillingham’s Letter of Withdrawal has been received by the Electoral Officer.