The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-05-10, Page 31New voting rules good for all Canadi
New voting rules will make it easier for all qualified
electors to cast ballots in the 31st Federal Election on
May 22.
Changes in the rules covering proxy voting and
advance polling are among those designed to make
voting possible and more practical for many of
Canada's estirrfated 14.9 million eligible electors in
this election.
"The ill, handicapp.ed and aged, certain students
and workers away from home, and voters unable to
vote because of temporary absence are among those
who wlH-benefit=` says Jean -Marc Hamel, Canada's
Chief Electoral Officer.
The changes were made in amendments to the
Canada Elections Act and were passed by Parliament
in December, 1977.
Some_.af the important changes are:
At least one advance poll with "level access" for the
handicapped must be set up in each urban area of an
electoral district. An elector entitled to vote at an
advance poll may, if the poll doesn't have level ac-
cesses, obtain a transfer certificate from his or her
'Returning Officer and vote at another poll that does
offer level access. A notice of an advance poll must
state if level access is available and explain to voters
that transfer certificates may be obtained.
Voting at advance polls -- for those unable to vote on
election day -- formerly was possible on two days only.
Under the new provisions, advance polling will be
spread over three days -- between noon and 8 p.m. on
Saturday, May 12, Monday, May 14, and Tuesday,
May 15. To vote at an advance poll, you have only to
sign your name -- not take an affidavit as in the past.
In a general election, voters who are unable to vote
on election _day or at the advance polls may now vote
in the office of the Returning Officer. Such voting will
be done noon to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on any day
beginning Monday May 7 and ending on May 18, ex-
cluding Sundays and any advance polling day.
Proxy voting is extended, to members of air crews,
forestry crews and topographical survey crews, and to
trappers. Such electors. along with fishermen,
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. b)
Capital outlays, including fixed assets and the transfers of capital funds
in the amount of $454,485, which have been financed from general municipal
revenues of the current year, are reported on the Statement of Revenue
and Expenditure.
3. RESERVE FUNDS
During the year, $220,870 were credited directly to reserve funds without
being recorded as revenues and expenditure of the Revenue Fund. Major
sources were:
1978 1977
0.11.R.P. grants $ 40,000
Contributions from subdividers 88,570
Contributions from consumers 8,600
Interest earned 50,702
Proceeds on sale of house 32,998
$ 220,870
4. NET LONG TERM LIABILITIES.,
$ 55,000-
14,750
5,500
26,543
$101,793
The balance for net long term liabilities reported on the Balance Sheet
made up of the following:
Total long term liabilities incurred by the municipality
including those incurred on behalf of former school
boards, other municipalities and municipal enterprises and
outstanding at the end of the year amount to
Of the long term liabilities shown above, the responsi-
bility for payment of principal and interest charges
has been assumed by others for a prinicipal amount of
The total value of sinking funds and the balance in the
Ministry of the Environment Debt Retirement Fund which
have been accumulated to the.endof the year to retire
the outstanding Long term liabilities included above,
amount to _
Net Long Term Liabilities At The End Of The Year
$1,895,596
449,000
329,658
778,658
$1,116 ,938
is
5. - ACCUMULATED NET REVENUE (DEFICIT) AT THE END OF THE YEAR
The balances in the revenue fund at the year end is available to reduce (to be
added to) the levies of the following classes of ratepayers.
General ratepayers
School board ratepayers
County ratepayers
1978
$300,524
301
(1,965)
$298,860
1977
$291,397
172
895
$292,464
CONTINUITY
Balance at the beginning
of the year
Capital receipts
Donation
Perpetual Care Receipts
Interest earned
Other revenue
Expenditure
.Transfer to Maitland
Cemetery Board
Balance at the end of
the year
G..er c . c 'n t.ai3 emetery
Library Trust Perpetual Care
$ - a
4,945 61,586
2,765
5,260
363 8 025
5,208
5,208
5,308 64,403
ac ay
Hall
$
5,473
122
5,595
-5,595
Assets
Cash
Investments, at cost
(market value $
Canada
Provincial
Municipal - own
- other
.Bank and Trust comp;nP
Other
.Accrued Interest
.Due from Maitland
Cemetery
Liabilities
Accounts payable and
accrued liabilities
Other
Balance - capital
- income
Total
-491 - 1,608
2,000
2,700 -
2,000
22,780
9,000
24,700
4,700 58,480
117 1,375
2 940
117 4,315
5,308 64,403
5,308 64,403
5,308 64,403
5,308 64,403
•
$
73. -
5,400
5,400
122
122
5,595
5,595
5,595
5,595
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1979 -PAGE 7A
citizens
mariners, prospectors, who are ill or physically
disabled, and students away from home during
academic terms, may now arrange to vote by proxy.
In proxy voting, an elector who cannot cast a ballot
in person on election day or at any other of specified
times, may appoint another elector to vote in his or
her place.
If you wish to vote by proxy, then either you or your
proxy must apply in person to the Returning Officer
for a proxy certificate.
At you are :applying -far .p.r-axy voting be-oa-use--o€
illness or physical incapacity, you must present a
certificate from a legally qualified medical prac-
titioner. If you are a student, absent from your polling
division during an academic term, you can apply to
vote by proxy but must have a statement from the
registrar of your college or school.
Special provisions for temporary workers away
from home have been extended to include students
who are gainfully employed between their academic
terms. In the past, such students couldn't vote if they
6. CHARGES FOR NET LONG TERM LIABILITIES
Total charges for the year for long term liabilities were
as follows:.
1978 1977
Principal payment including contributions
to sinking funds and to the Ministry of
Environment $ 91,340 9 97,067
Interest 98,992 105,557
9190,332 $202,624
Of the total charges shown above, $143,917 were paid from general municipal
revenues of the municipality and are included in expenditure on the Statement
of Revenue and Expenditure classified under the appropriate functional
headings. The remaining 946,415 were recovered from municipal enterprises for
which the related net long term liabilities were incurred and are not reflected
in the statement.
7. LIABILITY FOR VESTED SICK LEAVE BENEFITS
Under the sick leave benefit plan, unused sick leave can accumulate and
employees may become entitled to a ca$h payment when they leave the municipality's
employment.
The liability for these accumulated days, to the extent that they have vested
and could be taken in cash by an employee on terminating, amount to $65,775
at the end of the year. An amount of $11,504 has been provided for this past
service liability and is reported on the Balance Sheet.
8. INVESTMENTS
The investments included in current assets of $560,199 are recorded at cost
and have a market value of $560,199 as at the end of the- year.
9. CONTINGENT LIABILLTY,
A new grandstand is under construction in the municipality at an approximate
total cost of $355,000.00. This amount is expected to be financed by
subscriptions from the public and grants from government agencies. Any
funding deficiencies will have to be financed by the municipality.
RESERVE AND RESERVE FUNDS
STATEMENT OF CONTINUITY AND
ANALYSIS OF YEAR END POSITION
ANALYSIS OF YEAR-END
POSITION
Reserves
Working capital
Reserve funds
P.U.C. debenture
Contingentcies - 0.W.R.C.
Pollution control plant
Parklands
Water tower
t'
Lot Levies
Sunconst Drive extension
Year end position of reserves
and reserve funds
189,7 18
189 ,7 18
35,602
' 76,890
. 437,042
7,388
93,873
62,085
46,389
/76,608
966,32
96,027
96,027
83,997
• 268,712
4,x-52
• 11,456
62,739
14,9 28
446,484
. 542,511,
were away from their ordinary places of residence.
Now, they can vote in the electoral district where they
are working if they have arrived in the electoral
district by May 1 and take action to have their names
placed on the voters list during the period of revision
May 2 to May 4.
Several other rule changes w•ill•apply to this election
as a result of amendments io the law.
Electors will no longer be required to show their
occupation on election documents.
Ordinary -pal -1s on election day wilt be open 9 a.m. to
8 p.m., local time. Previusly, they opened at 8 a.m.
and closed at 7 p.m., standard time. All references to
times in the new law mean "local time".
An elector whose right to vote is challenged at a poll
-- because his or her identity is questioned -- may now
produce documents to prove identity. An oath is no
longer automatically required.
Employers and employees, under new rules, may
jointly agree to waive the provision giving employees
four consecutive hours time off with pay to vote.
Another rule change brings hourly -paid workers
under the time -off -work provisions. Still another
broadens the time -off provision to include all tran-
sportation companies, not just railways and their
employees, as was the case in previous elections.
CANADA
L.o1
Jean Marc -Hamel, Chief Electoral Officer, at left, discusses distribution
procedures. with Trudy Gibson, Special Projects Officer, and Louis Lavoie,
Director of Operations. The centre of election planning is on Coventry Road
in East Ottawa in the offices of Mr. Hamel and his permanent staff of 45.
LANA A
275,000 people.-..
• from page GA
moved and used in the
election period, they do
have essential purposes.
"We have tried to cut
red tape and have in fact
reduced the number of
forms in use; but many of
them remain necessary
under law and to ensure
smooth and efficient
service to the electors,"
says Mr. Hamel.
In addition, some new
forms have been
necessary under the
provisions of the election
expenses sections of the
Canada Elections Act."
Rules that limit
spending by parties and
candidates and a system
of partial reimbursement
of expenses are new since
the last general election
in 1974.
The 1979 election cost,
estimated at $50 million
for administration,
compares with $29.1
million for the general
election in 1974.
Three main factors
have pushed costs higher.
The number of eligible
voters has increased
from 13.3 million in 1974
to an estimated 14.9
million now. The number
...of elector a .di :tr.iet lras-
increased from 264 to 282.
And inflation has driven
up the costs of materials
and labour.
Administrative cost per
elector is expected to be
$3.10 in this election, up
from $2.18 in 1974.
The three principle cost
areas are the
enumeration of electors,
the printing of lists,
notices and ballot papers,
and polling day activities,
expected to cost $15
million, $7 million and $14
million respectively.
In addition to the 282
returning officers who
are responsible for the
elections in the electoral
districts, there will be
approximately 65,500
individual voting polls set
up, each requiring a
deputy returning officer
and a poll clerk.
While the Chief
Electoral Officer and the
election office . staff
coordinate and supervise
the electoral process in
general, there will be in
fact 282 separate elec-
tions held on May 22, one
in each of the electoral
districts. The returning
officer of each district,
appointed by the
Governor in Council (the
federal cabinet), must
supervise and conduct
the election and report
back to the Chief Elec-
toral Officer.
May Medic
Alert Month
Health Minister Dennis
Timbrell has endorsed
the month of May as
Medic -Alert Month. A.
non-profit organization,
the Medic -Alert Foun-
dation has been providing
its services in Canada for
some 22 years.
"I3y supporting May as
Medic -Alert Month," said
Mr. Timbrell, "the
Ministry is recogniz'.ng
the contribution to health
care in our province
made by the Foundation.
The Medic -Alert Foun-
dation issues iden-
tification bracelets or
necklets to people with
medical conditions
r-rrq u=i r r rrk::_
treatment in the event of
an emergency. Further,
they maintain an around-
the-clock central file
available to physicians
and other authorized
health personnel on a
collect -call basis.
"This valuable service
has saved the lives of
many persons in t(le
province.," continuedtMr.
Timbrell. "Among those
wearing the bracelets are
skin divers, diabetics,
epileptics, hemophiliacs,
and persons suffering
from multiple sclerosis,
severe allergies to an-
tibiotics, bee stings or
who take anti -coagulants,
cortisone and antabuse.
"When a person
wearing the medic -alert
emblem is involved in an
accident or other episode,
making it impossible to
describe hi-swher con-
dition, the attending
health professional'i is
able to obtain the
>�at' -round information
A
from the Foundation
offices," said Mr. Tim-
brell. "Persons who have
a hidden medical
disability should give
serious consideration to
enrolling in the Canadian
Medic -Alert Foundation
for their own protection."
Residents of .Ontario
may inquire further by
contacting the Canadian
Medic -Alert Foundation,
176 St. George Street,
Toronto, - Ontario M5R
2N1 or by telephoning
(416) 923-2451.
GIVE
RES1EA#iCH-
ACHANCE.
PLEASE
GIVE.
CAN CANCER BE BEATEN?
YOU BET YOUR LIFE IT CAN.
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY
Got
something
to
say?
let everyone
know
WRITE A
LETTER
TO THE
EDITOR
1978
Actual
S
1977
Actual
$
Available at the beginning of the year for
futures unicipal purposes
542,511
• 336,919
,..1 ::
Revenue
Contributions from the revenue fund ,
235,871
. 109 ,640.
Contributions from developers
. 88,570
14,750
D. H. R. P. grants
40,000
55,000
Contribution from consumers
8,600
5,500
.Proceeds on sale of house
32,998
Interest earned
. 50,702
. 26 , 543
456,741
211,433
Expenditure
Transfers to the capital fund
22,400
Transfers to the re4enue fund
2,776
2,576
•o.H.R.T-. Loaxb fortiven.
32,926
5841_
Available at the year end for future
municipal purposes
. 9.2_02.6_
. 5212.0_11.____
ANALYSIS OF YEAR-END
POSITION
Reserves
Working capital
Reserve funds
P.U.C. debenture
Contingentcies - 0.W.R.C.
Pollution control plant
Parklands
Water tower
t'
Lot Levies
Sunconst Drive extension
Year end position of reserves
and reserve funds
189,7 18
189 ,7 18
35,602
' 76,890
. 437,042
7,388
93,873
62,085
46,389
/76,608
966,32
96,027
96,027
83,997
• 268,712
4,x-52
• 11,456
62,739
14,9 28
446,484
. 542,511,
were away from their ordinary places of residence.
Now, they can vote in the electoral district where they
are working if they have arrived in the electoral
district by May 1 and take action to have their names
placed on the voters list during the period of revision
May 2 to May 4.
Several other rule changes w•ill•apply to this election
as a result of amendments io the law.
Electors will no longer be required to show their
occupation on election documents.
Ordinary -pal -1s on election day wilt be open 9 a.m. to
8 p.m., local time. Previusly, they opened at 8 a.m.
and closed at 7 p.m., standard time. All references to
times in the new law mean "local time".
An elector whose right to vote is challenged at a poll
-- because his or her identity is questioned -- may now
produce documents to prove identity. An oath is no
longer automatically required.
Employers and employees, under new rules, may
jointly agree to waive the provision giving employees
four consecutive hours time off with pay to vote.
Another rule change brings hourly -paid workers
under the time -off -work provisions. Still another
broadens the time -off provision to include all tran-
sportation companies, not just railways and their
employees, as was the case in previous elections.
CANADA
L.o1
Jean Marc -Hamel, Chief Electoral Officer, at left, discusses distribution
procedures. with Trudy Gibson, Special Projects Officer, and Louis Lavoie,
Director of Operations. The centre of election planning is on Coventry Road
in East Ottawa in the offices of Mr. Hamel and his permanent staff of 45.
LANA A
275,000 people.-..
• from page GA
moved and used in the
election period, they do
have essential purposes.
"We have tried to cut
red tape and have in fact
reduced the number of
forms in use; but many of
them remain necessary
under law and to ensure
smooth and efficient
service to the electors,"
says Mr. Hamel.
In addition, some new
forms have been
necessary under the
provisions of the election
expenses sections of the
Canada Elections Act."
Rules that limit
spending by parties and
candidates and a system
of partial reimbursement
of expenses are new since
the last general election
in 1974.
The 1979 election cost,
estimated at $50 million
for administration,
compares with $29.1
million for the general
election in 1974.
Three main factors
have pushed costs higher.
The number of eligible
voters has increased
from 13.3 million in 1974
to an estimated 14.9
million now. The number
...of elector a .di :tr.iet lras-
increased from 264 to 282.
And inflation has driven
up the costs of materials
and labour.
Administrative cost per
elector is expected to be
$3.10 in this election, up
from $2.18 in 1974.
The three principle cost
areas are the
enumeration of electors,
the printing of lists,
notices and ballot papers,
and polling day activities,
expected to cost $15
million, $7 million and $14
million respectively.
In addition to the 282
returning officers who
are responsible for the
elections in the electoral
districts, there will be
approximately 65,500
individual voting polls set
up, each requiring a
deputy returning officer
and a poll clerk.
While the Chief
Electoral Officer and the
election office . staff
coordinate and supervise
the electoral process in
general, there will be in
fact 282 separate elec-
tions held on May 22, one
in each of the electoral
districts. The returning
officer of each district,
appointed by the
Governor in Council (the
federal cabinet), must
supervise and conduct
the election and report
back to the Chief Elec-
toral Officer.
May Medic
Alert Month
Health Minister Dennis
Timbrell has endorsed
the month of May as
Medic -Alert Month. A.
non-profit organization,
the Medic -Alert Foun-
dation has been providing
its services in Canada for
some 22 years.
"I3y supporting May as
Medic -Alert Month," said
Mr. Timbrell, "the
Ministry is recogniz'.ng
the contribution to health
care in our province
made by the Foundation.
The Medic -Alert Foun-
dation issues iden-
tification bracelets or
necklets to people with
medical conditions
r-rrq u=i r r rrk::_
treatment in the event of
an emergency. Further,
they maintain an around-
the-clock central file
available to physicians
and other authorized
health personnel on a
collect -call basis.
"This valuable service
has saved the lives of
many persons in t(le
province.," continuedtMr.
Timbrell. "Among those
wearing the bracelets are
skin divers, diabetics,
epileptics, hemophiliacs,
and persons suffering
from multiple sclerosis,
severe allergies to an-
tibiotics, bee stings or
who take anti -coagulants,
cortisone and antabuse.
"When a person
wearing the medic -alert
emblem is involved in an
accident or other episode,
making it impossible to
describe hi-swher con-
dition, the attending
health professional'i is
able to obtain the
>�at' -round information
A
from the Foundation
offices," said Mr. Tim-
brell. "Persons who have
a hidden medical
disability should give
serious consideration to
enrolling in the Canadian
Medic -Alert Foundation
for their own protection."
Residents of .Ontario
may inquire further by
contacting the Canadian
Medic -Alert Foundation,
176 St. George Street,
Toronto, - Ontario M5R
2N1 or by telephoning
(416) 923-2451.
GIVE
RES1EA#iCH-
ACHANCE.
PLEASE
GIVE.
CAN CANCER BE BEATEN?
YOU BET YOUR LIFE IT CAN.
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY
Got
something
to
say?
let everyone
know
WRITE A
LETTER
TO THE
EDITOR