Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Google Pixel 8 Buy Now
LUENX Men's Polarized Aviators Buy Now
Blisset 3 Pack High Waisted Leggings for Women Buy Now
Polarized Aviator Sunglasses Buy Now
Wildpier Dermaplaning Tool Buy Now
The Psychology of Money Buy Now
Longline Wirefree Sports Bra Buy Now
Muscle Fit Dress Shirt Buy Now
Pimple Patch for Face Buy Now
Water Sports Shoes for Men and Women Buy Now
Vintage Printed Linen Shirt Buy Now
HP Newest Flagship 15.6 HD Pavilion Laptop Buy Now
Men's Blazer Casual Sport Coats Buy Now
Rose Gold Mesh Women's Watch Buy Now
Classic Fit Signature Lux Cotton Stretch Pants Buy Now
Braun Silk·Expert Pro 5 IPL Buy Now
Mom's Birthstone Necklace Buy Now
MAIBAOTA 8-Piece Men's Necklace Set Buy Now
HeatGear Compression Long-Sleeve T-Shirt Buy Now
Outdoor Casual Vintage Long Sleeve Shirt Jacket Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Social service workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., aim to reduce voting barriers for unhoused people

Social service workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., aim to reduce voting barriers for unhoused people

CBC
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 11:30 AM GMT

Staff at an overnight shelter in Thunder Bay, Ont., are calling on Elections Canada to make it easier for people experiencing homelessness to cast their ballots in the federal election.

Shelter House is working alongside NorWest Community Health Centres (NWCHC) in the northwestern Ontario city to help unhoused people participate in Monday's vote. 

As was the case in the Ontario election, social service organizations can sign identification confirmation letters for people who don't have a permanent address or piece of identification. Clients can take these letters to a polling station in lieu of a voter information card.

However, while only one piece of ID was needed to vote provincially, two pieces of documentation are needed to cast a ballot in the federal election.

Anyone without a permanent address can use social benefit cheques, jail release papers or a label on a prescription container as identification, for examples.

"These things sound like they're accommodating to an individual that's never experienced homelessness or lived through substance use challenges, but really those are just adding insult to injury," said Champagne Thomson, development manager at Shelter House.

A full list of accepted ID can be found on Elections Canada's website.

In a city where at least 550 people are known to be experiencing homelessness, according to the latest point-in-time count, Thomson said she wants Elections Canada to accept one piece of ID from voters instead of two.

"It's very challenging as someone on our side trying to get people as excited, energized out there to vote," she said. "The reception is very different because people are automatically just being slapped in the face with barriers as opposed to opportunity."

More than three-quarters of people known to be homeless in Thunder Bay are Indigenous, and Thomson said that also adds to the complexities of voting access.

"Now [in] the federal election, which is going to be the one that impacts Indigenous affairs the most, Indigenous people are yet again being disproportionately disenfranchised by the lack of access, the lack of accessibility," Thomson said. 

"We also look at disproportionate rates of incarceration. We look at all of these different systemic factors and realize that with this quick turnaround time, we're not able to get ahead of it."

CBC News received an emailed response from Richard Théoret, regional media adviser for Elections Canada, on Tuesday regarding voting barriers relating to unhoused people.

Théoret explained the process of receiving a letter of confirmation of residence from somewhere that "offers food, housing or other social services," such as Shelter House. He said people can also use their birth certificate or health card as identification. 

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Sudbury long-term care home still can't admit new residents, six months after provincial order issued

A long-term care home in Sudbury has not been able to admit new residents for six months now, following a provincial order.

Halifax's shared e-bike, scooter pilot causing some accessibility issues, say advocates

In the last week, Tara Niekamp has come across electric scooters from Halifax's new micromobility pilot program parked where they're not supposed to be — in the middle of the sidewalk.

'Significant deficiencies' with public housing sees units sit vacant, auditor general finds

The New Brunswick Housing Corporation does not have systems or practices in place to ensure its 4,630 public housing units are well maintained, safe and habitable for tenants, according to a new report by the auditor general.

Peel police bust trucks carrying some $50M worth of cocaine into GTA

Peel police seized almost $50 million worth of cocaine they say was being trafficked from the U.S. into the Greater Toronto Area in commercial trucks. 

She came to Canada for university, but she'd never been accepted. The scam cost her $7K

With an admission letter to a Quebec university in hand, Aminata flew from Benin, west Africa, to Montreal with $2,000 in her pocket to fulfil her dream of pursuing higher education in Canada.

Why hasn't Sask. called for military help? The province says it needs wildfire expertise

At nearly every one of their daily wildfire media briefings, Saskatchewan officials are asked why they haven't called on the military for support.

P.E.I. strawberry farmer hopeful more Islanders will buy local amid disease concerns

With strawberry season around the corner, one Prince Edward Island farmer is sharing his concerns about a new disease that's affecting some crops.

B.C. government says more oversight coming for dysfunctional municipalities

The ongoing dysfunction in the City of Kamloops has gotten so bad that the B.C. government is considering major changes to the oversight of feuding city councils across the province.

8 years after Tim Hague's death, Alberta failing on combat sport reform, experts say 

Eight years after a deadly boxing match in Edmonton triggered calls for the province to regulate combat sports, Alberta government officials say they need more time to consider the changes. 

10-year-old child killed in North Vancouver boat crash identified

The 10-year-old victim of a speedboat crash in North Vancouver on Saturday evening has been identified as Lionel Hall.

Windsor man overdosed in jail after being denied addiction meds, coroner's inquest hears

A Windsor father of two died from a fentanyl overdose at a local jail just days after being denied a prescription for a drug that treats opioid addiction, a coroner's inquest heard Monday. 

Sandy Lake First Nation evacuations continue as major wildfire burns nearby

Hundreds of members of Sandy Lake First Nation have left the remote Oji-Cree community as a major wildfire burns nearby.

Local non-profit 'unlocking' empty office space for artists in Waterloo region

A new collaboration that allows local artists to temporarily take over empty buildings in Waterloo region aims to "cut the red tape" normally associated with renting space.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Quebec 'closely monitoring' tuberculosis in Nunavik, minister says, as doctors call for more resources

Quebec's health minister says the province's public health service is "closely monitoring" the number of tuberculosis cases in Nunavik, in the wake of a letter from the mayors of the region's 14 Inuit communities calling for the declaration of a public health emergency.

Another Trudeau-appointed senator joins Conservative caucus

Sen. Mary Jane McCallum of Manitoba is now part of the Conservatives' Senate caucus — making her the second senator appointed by former prime minister Justin Trudeau to join the party this month.

District of Squamish declares state of local emergency due to wildfire

The District of Squamish, about 45 kilometres north of Vancouver, has declared a state of local emergency due to an active wildfire.

A Toronto teen lay dying while a 911 caller was on hold. Now, the city is promising a review

The city of Toronto will review an incident where a 911 caller was put on hold for almost seven minutes while a teenage boy was dying from a gunshot wound, the mayor and a top paramedic said on Tuesday. 

New and returning chiefs elected in N.W.T. Tłı̨chǫ communities

Tłı̨chǫ communities held their elections Monday night, voting in new and returning faces to lead their communities for a four-year term.

Carney laments Pride 'backlash' and rolls out money to make 2SLGBTQ+ parades safer

Prime Minister Mark Carney raised a Pride flag on Parliament Hill Tuesday to kick off a month-long celebration of sexual and gender diversity while saying there's a brewing "backlash" to these sorts of celebrations and federal money is needed to help make 2SLGBTQ+ parades safe this year.

OPEC boss slams net-zero targets, promotes big future for oil in Calgary speech

The secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries says the world's thirst for oil will continue for decades to come and investment in the sector is necessary to meet those needs.

Ontario bill will protect bad actors in long-term care homes, advocates say

The Ontario government is proposing restricting public access to long-term care (LTC) home inspection reports — a move advocates say will protect bad actors in the sector. 

Murray Harbour Community Centre preps for emergencies with $185K in upgrades

The Murray Harbour Community Centre has received significant renovations to help it better support the community, especially in times of emergency.

Alberta lifts ban on American liquor imports — but local demand for U.S. booze isn't the same

The Alberta government has lifted its ban on American liquor imports, but that doesn't necessarily mean there will be more U.S. booze landing on shelves anytime soon.

Robert Miller, billionaire accused of sex crimes, unfit to stand trial, judge rules

Robert Miller, the Montreal billionaire accused of multiple sex crimes, is too sick to stand trial, Quebec Superior Court Justice Lyne Décarie ruled Tuesday. 

Businesses are using AI images, but N.L. artists want them to reconsider

A St. John's artist is trying to get people to think twice before using art made with artificial intelligence.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us