List of Federal Returning Officers

Summary#

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer published a list of the people appointed as returning officers for every federal electoral district under the Canada Elections Act. The list was signed by Stéphane Perrault and reflects appointments as of December 22, 2022; it appeared in the Canada Gazette on January 14, 2023.

What it does#

• Gives the name, occupation and contact address for the returning officer in each federal electoral district.
• Shows where positions are currently listed as Vacant.
• Is an informational publication — it does not itself change election law or rules.

Who's affected#

• Local election administrators and the returning officers named in the list.
• People and groups involved in federal campaigns (candidates, political parties, campaign teams) who need to contact their returning officer.
• Voters, journalists or members of the public who want to know who manages elections in a particular district.

Why it matters#

• Returning officers are the local contact and manager for federal elections in each district. Knowing who holds that role makes it easier to file nominations, ask about voting arrangements, or get official election information.
• The list provides transparency about appointments and highlights any districts without a current returning officer.
• Because the document records appointments as of December 22, 2022, it shows the state of local election staffing at that date; staffing can change after publication.