Election Observation Missions

2011 International Election Observation Missions

Russia

CANADEM deployed two Short Term Observers (STO) to join the OSCE Election Observation Mission in the December elections.

Nicaragua

CANADEM deployed two STOs - Fernando Chinchilla and Rebecca McPhail-Mellett - to join the European Union mission as well as the Organization for American States mission..

DRC

Following an invitation from the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to observe the Presidential and legislative elections on November 28th, CANADEM deployed four STOs - Jarrett Reckseidler, Cyriaque Meka-Mevoung, Habib Massoud and Lara Romaniuc - as well as two LTOs - Michael O'Mahony and Alexandra Devon.

Kyrgyz Republic

Following an invitation from Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organized an Election Observation Mission (OSCE-ODIHR EOM) to monitor the presidential elections on October 30th 2011. Jane Cooper and John Landry were deployed to the field and to join the mission as Long Term Observers (LTO).

Tunisia

Following the invitation from the Tunisia interim government, the European Union (EU) established an Election Observation Mission to monitor the elections on October 23rd 2011. Ginette Dupaul, Christian Gohel and Juan Barranco Abrego were deployed as Long Term Observers (LTO). They were also joined by two Short Term Observers (STO), Ali Kilkal and Marc Lemieux.

Guatemala

Following an invitation from the Government of Guatemala, the Organization of American States (OAS) established an Election Observation Mission to monitor the first round of the General Elections on September 11th 2011. Jennifer Peirce, Christian Fournier, Jean-Marc Baudot, Elizabeth Utting and Andrés Lopez-Hoyos were deployed as Short Term Observers (STO) to join the mission. They returned to Guatemala for the second round that took place on November 6th 2011.

Kazakhstan

At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)  Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) established an Election Observation Mission to monitor the Presidential election on 3 April 2011. Three Canadian members of the International Election Monitors Insitute (IEMI) joined the mission as short term observers - Doug Rowland, Andrey McLaughlin and Darryl Gray. Their participation was funded by the IEMI through the generous contribution of the Government of Canada.

Haiti

Following its observation of the first round of presidential elections in Haiti, the Organization of American States established a second Election Observation Mission to monitor the second round of elections that took place on 20 March 2011. A total of thirty observers were deployed to observe the mission, two as long term observers and twenty-eight as short term observers.

Niger

Following an invitation from the Government of the Republic of Niger, the European Union established an Election Observation Mission to monitor the 2011 Presidential and Legislative Elections that took place on 31 January and 12 March 2011. Two Canadian observers were deployed to join the mission as long term observers (LTOs).

Belarus
CANADEM deployed four election observers throughout the country in multinational two-person teams to assess the close of the campaign, voting, counting and the tabulation of results. 

Sudan Following an invitation from the Sudanese National Elections Commission and the Government of Sudan, the European Union established an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) that moinitored the  recent Presidential, Parliamentary and Subnational elections. Gisèle Arseneau and Jacques Paquette joined the Mission last March as Long Term election observers (LTO). They were soon joined by Short term observers (STO) Ali Kilkal and Mariam Loneban. The observers deployed to all 25 States to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the overall electoral process. For more information on the EU Election observation mission to Sudan, visit the Official EU Sudan EOM Website.

Kyrgyzstan Following an invitation from Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organized an Election Observation Mission (OSCE-ODIHR EOM) to monitor the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan on 10 October 2010. Helen Belopolsky and Svitozar Omelko joined the mission in October as Short-Term election observers (LTOs). The EOM assessed the compliance of the parliamentary elections with principles for democratic electoral processes and the national legal framework. Observers monitored campaign activities, the work of the election administration and involved governmental bodies, the implementation of election-related legislation, coverage of the election in the media, and the resolution of election-related disputed. 

Tajikistan Following an invitation from the government of Tajikistan, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) established an Election Observation Mission to monitor the Presidential elections on February 28, 2010. Gary Ouellet and Lori Shortreed joined the Mission as Short term observers (STO). For more information, visit the Official OSCE/ODIHR Tajikistan EOM Website.

Burundi Following an invitation from the Republic of Burundi, the European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission to Burundi (EU EOM Burundi). Cheickh Bangoura and Jean Joseph Estime deployed in April to join the mission as Long Term Observers (LTOs), along with STOs Ilana Bleichert and Nick Hare. The EU EOM Burundi monitored the overall electoral process, from the quality of electoral logistics preparations, political campaining, voter education and registration, Election Day, as well as the complaints and appeals process for the June 28 Presidential Elections. For more information, visit the Official EU Burundi EOM Website.

Ethiopia Upon invitation from the Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, the European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM Ethiopia) to monitor the House of People's Representatives and State Council Elections, held on May 23, 2010. Robert Henderson and Gary Ouellet joined the European Union Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia in April as LTOs, in order to assist in observing the electoral process and coordinating the deployment of Short Term Observers (STOs). For more information, visit the Official EU Ethiopia EOM Website.

CANADEM Deployed Canadian Observers to the 2010 Presidential Election in Ukraine:

For the first round of voting on January 17 CANADEM deployed six long term observers and 60 short term observers seconded to the OSCE electoral observation mission. Since the first round of voting was inconclusive, these 66 observers will also observe the second round set for February 7th.

In addition to the OSCE led mission, CANADEM also mounted an independent stand-alone mission of 200 observers, as announced on January 15 by the Hon. Bev Oda, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Cooperation.
 

Read more

Mozambique Two STOs, Ginette Dupaul and Jacques Paquette, deployed to the EU EOM in Mozambique to observer the October 28, 2009 presidential, national and provincial elections.

Haiti In September 2009, CANADEM deployed elections expert Jacques Paquette to Haiti as an Electoral Operations Specialist. Mr. Paquette worked in Haiti under the supervision of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in a joint mission with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Afghanistan CANADEM, in collaboration with CIDA, deployed Jacques Paquette as a Long Term Observer to assist the European Union mission in Afghanistan for the August 20, 2009 Presidential and Provincial elections under the International Election Observation Project.

Kyrgyz Republic Also under the CIDA-Funded International Election Observation Project, CANADEM deployed 5 short-term observers to the Presidential Elections in the Kyrgyz Republic in July 2009. Ron Laufer, Aimée Lavoie, Marla Morry, Gary Ouellet and Lori Shortreed joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) election observation mission.

Lebanon Two Short Term Observers, Alexandra Devon and Jacques Paquette, were deployed to the EU EOM to Lebanon to observer the June 2009 elections.