An Elections Canada poll worker accused of urging electors to vote for the Conservative Party at an advance polling station in King-Vaughan over the weekend will no longer be present at any polling location or Elections Canada office, according to the agency.
The incident, which took place at Teston Village Public School in Maple, Ontario, was reported by Nadeem Mahmood, a scrutineer for Liberal candidate Mubarak Ahmed, who said multiple voters alleged the worker was selectively encouraging individuals to vote Conservative, particularly those who appeared less familiar with the voting process.
“What has happened is very concerning. It’s unacceptable,” said Mahmood, describing it as a “breach of public trust” that borders on voter manipulation.
Elections Canada responded swiftly, stating it takes all allegations of partisanship seriously and confirmed that the matter has been referred to the Commissioner of Canada Elections for further investigation.
“The integrity of the electoral process, and the perception of its integrity, are our priority,” said Elections Canada spokesperson Diane Benson.
The employment status of the individual involved remains unclear, though reports suggest the worker may have been reassigned. The Canada Elections Act prohibits poll workers from engaging in any partisan political activity during their employment.
A spokesperson for Conservative incumbent Anna Roberts said their campaign had no involvement or knowledge of the incident and reaffirmed their commitment to an impartial election process. They also cited a separate complaint about alleged Liberal favoritism at a polling station in Milton East–Halton Hills South, which Elections Canada is also reviewing.
Mubarak Ahmed’s campaign has filed a formal complaint and requested an immediate incident report, which Mahmood says has already been submitted. Elections Canada’s ethics team has reportedly launched an internal investigation.
“[Ahmed] entered this race with faith in the electoral system,” said Mahmood. “That faith has been shaken—but not broken.”
With the King-Vaughan race expected to be highly competitive, concerns over electoral integrity remain central as all parties work to secure public trust in Canada’s democratic process.