List of Federal Returning Officers

Summary#

This Canada Gazette entry (Part I, Volume 155, Number 3) publishes a formal list of the people appointed as returning officers for every federal electoral district. The list, provided by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer and signed by Stéphane Perrault on December 24, 2020, was published on January 16, 2021.

What it does#

• Publishes the name, mailing address and occupation of each person appointed as a returning officer for every federal electoral district.
• Notes these appointments are made under the Canada Elections Act and reflect districts established by the 2013 Representation Order.
• Includes contact information for the House of Commons office dealing with private-bill notices (a separate, brief item in the same Gazette issue).

Who's affected#

• Returning officers named in the list — this makes their names and contact details public.
• Election administrators and staff who work with returning officers.
• Political parties and candidates, who may need to contact local returning officers during campaigns.
• Members of the public and media who want authoritative contact details for local election officials.
• If it’s unclear: the notice does not change anyone’s duties; it only records who was appointed and where they can be reached.

Why it matters#

• Returning officers run the practical work of federal elections and by-elections in their districts. Making their names and contact details public helps transparency and day-to-day election planning.
• Candidates, parties and voters can use the list to find the local official responsible for voter registration, polling locations and ballot processes.
• Publishing the list on a public government registry (the Canada Gazette) is a routine step that confirms who is officially in those local roles ahead of any future elections.