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 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.

We are experiencing a high volume of members calling regarding their GINU membership profiles and if they are on the voters list. If you cannot access GINU due to having the wrong password you can correct this by clicking ‘forgot password’ and typing your email address into the first box (one that is associated with your profile) and your band number. If the email & band number matches what we have on file, then you will receive an email (check your junk/spam folders if you do not see the email in your main inbox). Any further difficulties you can call 709-634-5163 – if you go to voicemail please ensure you state your name and phone number so we can call you back.

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

Voting will be done over the phone or online using a PIN that will be sent to voters by postage mail.

To receive your voter PIN please ensure your mailing address is up to date!
You can update your mailing address by completing the Voter Registration Form
or by going to your Ginu membership profile and updating your personal profile information

 

We recommend you take the additional step of updating your address with Indigenous Services Canada. You can reach them at 1 800 561 2266. For support doing this, you can connect with Nancy O’Connell our Indian Registration Administrator at (709) 634-4010 or email noconnell@qalipu.ca.

 

Qalipu Elections 2021 Additional Information

Qalipu Chief and Council would like to announce to its members that the position of Electoral Officer has been appointed to Carol Lahey. In this role, Carol will administer the upcoming Band Election for Fall 2021 in accordance with the Custom Rules Governing the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Elections.

Carol Lahey was a Deputy Electoral Officer in both 2012 and 2015 elections and was then appointed Electoral Officer during the last election in 2018. She has become very proficient in her understanding of the Qalipu election process, rules, and procedures. Lahey also brings with her experience working in both provincial and federal elections.

We look forward to another successful election in 2021.

To reach Carol, please email clahey@qalipu.ca or call 709-630-7678

Find a copy of the Election Code here: Election Code

Voters will receive an information package in the mail containing a secure PIN that they will use to vote either online or over the phone:

Question: What can I do to make sure I receive my voter information package in the mail?

Answer: We need your correct mailing address. Please register your current information by completing the Voter Registration Form or by updating your Ginu membership profile on your own

The Band holds an Election for Chief and Council every three years.

In the past, voters have requested mail-in ballots or voted at polling stations in each of the nine Wards.

During the 2018 election, Qalipu held a referendum vote to amend the Election Code.  75% of voters voted in favour of changing the way we hold elections; instead of mail-in ballots and polling stations, voters will now be asked to vote online or over the phone.

Find a copy of the Election Code here: https://qalipu.ca/qalipu-election-2021/#1611931747908-9b71716b-5ba6

Going forward, voters will receive an information package in the mail containing a secure PIN that they will use to vote either online or over the phone.

We will not be able to reach voters who do not have a current mailing address listed on their ginu membership profile.  However, these individuals will have the opportunity to dial a toll-free number and obtain a PIN after verifying their membership identity once the Election has been called.

Question: What can I do to make sure I receive my voter information package in the mail?

Answer: We need your correct mailing address.  Please register your current information by completing the  Voter Registration Form or by updating your ginu membership profile on your own.

Question: When is the Election?

Answer: A call for nominations will take place in early September 2021.   Voting will take place over the course of a seven-day window leading up to end of voting and announcement of winners on October 22.

Question: Who is eligible to vote in the upcoming Election?

Answer: Every Band member who is age 18 + at the date of the election is eligible to vote regardless of their location.

Question: Who will we be voting for during the Election?

Answer: The positions of Chief, Western Vice Chief, Central Vice Chief and Ward Councilors for each of the nine Wards (Flat Bay, St. George’s, Stephenville, Port au Port, Corner Brook, Benoit’s Cove, Grand Falls-Windsor, Glenwood, and Gander Bay).

Question: Can I vote on all of these?

Answer: Voters will vote on the positions of Chief, Vice Chief for their region only, and Ward Councilor for their Ward only.

Question: If I do not live in a Ward, will I still be able to vote for a Ward Councilor?

Answer: If the voter does not live in a Ward community, they will have the opportunity to vote in the last Ward community in which they lived.  If the voter has never lived in a Ward community, we will look at substantive community connection to determine your voting Ward.  In most cases, this has been previously determined by data provided during the application process.  For a small number of others who were more recently accepted into the Band, we will ask about your community connection, or the community to which you tie your Mi’kmaq ancestry in order to determine your substantive community connection.

Question: Can I vote at a polling station or request a mail-in-ballot?

Answer: no, voting will be done using a secure PIN that will be sent to you in the mail.  You will then have a seven-day window in which to vote online or over the phone.

Question: Why am I expected to vote this way? Why did things change?

Answer: During the 2018 election, Qalipu held a referendum vote to amend the Election Code.  75% of voters voted in favour of changing the way we hold elections; instead of mail-in ballots and polling stations, voters will now be asked to vote online or over the phone.

Question: What if I have trouble voting online or over the phone? Will there be help available?

Answer: Yes, there will be a toll-free support line you can contact for assistance.  We also expect that the Electoral Officer may put people in place for in-person support at our Band office locations.

 

If you have additional questions, please email them to communications@qalipu.ca