As an employer, you are likely asking what rights your employees
have during the upcoming federal election on October 21, 2019, and
what your corresponding obligations might be.
Each employee who is also an "elector" (a Canadian
citizen 18 years of age or older on polling day) is entitled to
three consecutive hours off from work to vote, as mandated by the
Canada Elections Act. Subject to a few considerations set out
below, employers are obligated to provide the necessary time off
work to vote, with pay, if the employee's schedule does not
otherwise allow for such free time to vote.
If your employees' existing work schedule already allows for
three consecutive hours to vote on election day during regular
polling hours, you do not need to give employees any additional
time off. However, in the likely event that an employee's work
schedule does not have a three-hour window, you must provide that
window, with pay, if asked. The employer can, however, provide
