Reports Of Northern Vote Recount Premature

Reports Of Northern Vote Recount Premature

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 13:23

Elections Canada says there will not be a recount taking place tomorrow regarding the election results in Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.

Earlier, spokesman Roger Francis indicated the chief electoral officer in the northern Saskatchewan constituency had ordered a recount into Monday’s close and controversial result.

But Francis says what’s actually happening tomorrow is part of the normal validation process following each election.

He says individual votes will not be physically re-counted, but the paperwork from the various polls in the constituency will be checked.

Francis adds there are avenues of appeal for former MP Jeremy Harrison to have his allegations of voting irregularities investigated — including asking for a judicial recount and an investigation by a federal commissioner — but Francis notes those processes could easily take months.

Harrison thought he was on his way to victory, but watched as the Liberals’ Gary Merasty staged a late comeback — winning on the final ballot by 106 votes.

Harrison has publicly stated over 100 people have come to him with stories of alleged irregularities on election night — particularly on northern reserves — and that’s why he’s asking Elections Canada to investigate.