Newfoundland and Labrador’s thousands of rotational workers are once again at the top of the province’s policy discussions, this time in relation to the timing of the provincial election.
In a release Saturday, Chris Tibbs, a Progressive Conservative candidate in central Newfoundland, says a snap election called in the middle of winter makes it tough for rotational workers to vote.
His concerns are echoed in a local Facebook group for rotational workers, which began in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when health authorities were rolling out special quarantine rules for people regularly travelling back and forth to other provinces for work.
Read more: The question looming over N.L.’s winter pandemic election: Will anyone vote?
Many in the group are sharing information on how to vote by mail, urging their fellow rotational workers to be sure they get a ballot.
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In an interview, Gillian Pearson, who co-chairs a local group supporting women and gender-diverse people in politics, says snap elections can also make it harder for women to run, as they are often in charge of child- or elder-care and must make arrangements.
According to the province’s election rules, Liberal leader and incumbent Premier Andrew Furey had to call an election before August 2021.
Read more: ‘We’ve done a good job:’ COVID-19 vaccinations begin for Labrador’s Inuit
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2021.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
