List of Federal Returning Officers

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published a roster of people appointed as federal returning officers for every electoral district in Canada. The list, signed by Stéphane Perrault on December 19, 2019, was published in Part I on January 18, 2020 under the Canada Elections Act.

What it does#

• Publishes the name, address and occupation of each person appointed as a returning officer for every electoral district created under the 2013 Representation Order.
• Confirms those appointments were made under section 25 of the Canada Elections Act.
• Shows when a district has no returning officer listed (some entries are marked Vacant).

Who's affected#

• Voters and residents who want to know who runs federal election operations in their area.
• People thinking of running for federal office, because returning officers handle local candidate paperwork and nominations.
• Political parties, campaign teams and election workers who need local election contacts.
• Journalists and community groups looking for election administration information.

Why it matters#

• Returning officers manage the practical running of federal elections in each district. Knowing who they are and how to contact them helps the public and candidates get information or resolve local election questions.
• The list is a basic transparency tool for election administration. Vacant listings may indicate districts where recruitment or temporary arrangements are needed before the next election.