Elections Canada translator fired
Agency offers translation services to voters who request it, but Elections Canada translators can’t accompany voters behind voting screen

thestar.com
Oct. 10, 2015
By Ben Spurr

A translator working for Canada has been fired for following a voter behind a voting screen, the federal agency confirmed on Saturday.

The incident occurred Friday at a polling station in the riding of Brampton North during the first hour of advance voting.

“As soon as the incident was noted, the returning officer relieved the translator of his duties,” Elections Canada spokesperson Dugald Maudsley said in an email.

When possible, the elections agency offers translation services to those who request it in order to help them vote, but translators aren’t allowed to accompany voters behind the screen.

The person who was followed by the translator cast a ballot, which is still in the ballot box and will be counted as normal, Maudsley said. Elections Canada has filed a complaint with the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections, the government body responsible for enforcing federal election laws.