Voter turnout in Manitoba’s northern region historically low, some hoping that will change

A man enters an advance polling station in Ottawa on September 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Churchill, in northern Manitoba, is a strategic port town. The community of around 800 people is unique—home to the only deep-water seaport in Northern Canada that is connected by land to the rest of the country.

But the region where Churchill is situated has a history of low voter turnout during elections.

The riding of Churchill–Keewatinook Aski in northern Manitoba covers more than 420,000 square kilometres, making it the largest riding in the province, but it has fewer than 48,000 registered voters. In 2021, this riding saw just a 36 per cent voter turnout—well below the national average.

This is part of a broader trend across the country: Indigenous people are less likely to vote than non-Indigenous people.

“I’m sure there are some folks that don’t think that their vote makes a difference or that this riding doesn’t make a difference to the country,” says Joe Stover, a longtime resident of Churchill, Man. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Sharlene Chapman, also a longtime resident of Churchill, has always voted. She believes her vote makes a difference.

“If you want to see the change, then you have to be willing to make the move for the change,” she says.

But not everyone in the community shares that sentiment. Courtney Hooper says she’s never voted and doesn’t plan to until she sees real change.

“The promises that have been made in the past that are important to me have not been kept,” she says. “It doesn’t really matter with my vote whether it will happen or not.”

Hooper believes this perspective is common in the region, contributing to the extremely low turnout in 2021.

“We feel forgotten about.”

There are many challenges facing residents of the Polar Bear Capital of the World: the high cost of living, including rising grocery prices; a lack of affordable flights in and out of the community; and poor infrastructure and housing, to name a few.

But the lack of action on the redevelopment of the town’s port and rail line—once the area’s main source of employment—remains a significant issue.

Rose Rabiscah, who plans to vote this year, says these long-standing issues are among the reasons many in the North feel unmotivated to cast a ballot.

“We don’t see many changes in this area as much as we want,” she says. “There could be a whole lot more than there is now.”

Helen McEwan agrees.

“Generally, I just feel like people are fed up and they just feel that it’s not going to make a difference and that our vote isn’t going to change anything,” she says.

On-reserve turnout sees major drop between 2019 and 2021: Elections Canada

Every province and territory saw a decline in Indigenous voter turnout in 2021, according to Elections Canada. The largest drops were in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan—each seeing a decrease of 17 percentage points between 2019 and 2021.

Manitoba saw turnout fall from 40.7 per cent in 2019 to just 29.4 per cent in 2021.

To address this, Manitoba’s Southern Chiefs’ Organization has launched a campaign called ‘Rock the Vote,’ encouraging Indigenous people in the province and across the country to participate in the upcoming federal election.

Indigenous leaders are also reminding federal politicians not to overlook Indigenous priorities.

“It takes a lot of time for our people to commit to this process,” says Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak Grand Chief Garrison Settee. “Their vote will ultimately affect their First Nations; it will affect their communities and their families.

“I think the opportunities that lie in the northern region of Canada—the potential for employment and jobs—is there,” he adds.

AFN releases election priorities report

Earlier this month, the Assembly of First Nations released its election priorities report titled ‘Prosperity for All: First Nations Priorities for the 2025 Federal Election.’

The report highlights four key areas the next federal government must address: economic reconciliation; completing Calls to Action and Calls for Justice; the well-being of First Nations children, families and future generations; and community safety and security.

Churchill Mayor Michael Spence says Indigenous people must reclaim their power and demand action on persistent issues.

“It’s critical,” he says. “You can make a difference if you step up.

The importance of getting out and voting is critical to building the community and building the region,” he says.

Advanced polls are open Easter weekend from April 18 to 21, and polls will also be open on election day, April 28.