An advocacy group lobbying for the strength of Canadian democracy is recommending that 4 provinces push their fixed election dates back to the end of October. Democracy Watch says Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island all have election dates fixed in early October, which causes problems for many voters. It says parents busy getting children settled in school in September have little time to participate in election campaigns or even pay them much attention. University students are also tied up in September and may have difficulty establishing residency at their school location until later in October, which keeps them from voting. The watchdog urged the provinces to recall their legislatures to quickly pass legislation to change the dates.
