Appendix A – Survey of candidates 2019 – CEO Invitation Letter

Our file: 2019-100354

October 9, 2019

[Candidate's name]

Candidate in the 43rd general election

Dear [full name of candidate]:

As in previous general elections, we are surveying all candidates to get their feedback. This survey is conducted as part of our evaluations of the 43rd general election and in keeping with our commitment to collaborate with parliamentarians, political parties and other stakeholders.

Elections Canada has commissioned Ekos Research Associates, an independent research company, to carry out this study. During the next few weeks, a representative of Ekos will be contacting you by telephone at the number you provided on your nomination paper to invite you to take part in a brief, 20-minute telephone interview. If you want, you can contact Ekos to schedule an interview at a time that is convenient for you by calling 1-800-388-2873 (toll free) or by contacting them by email at candidates@ekos.com.

This study is mainly about the following topics:

your perceptions of the conduct and administration of the 43rd general election;
Elections Canada services and products provided to candidates and their campaign managers and official agents, including the new Political Entities Service Centre (online portal);
your experience with various aspects of the electoral process (nomination, voter registration, voting, voter identification, the nomination process of election staff and lists of electors);
your opinion about select policy issues, like the use of technology at the polls.

Please be assured that all information provided will be treated in strict confidence. Ekos Research will send Elections Canada only an electronic file without any personal identifiers, including party affiliation, or information that would allow responses to be linked to a candidate's identity. Each participant will be informed when the study is published on Elections Canada's website.

I wish to thank you in advance for the valuable time that you will devote to this initiative. Your feedback will help us to improve the overall conduct of elections and our services to both electors and political entities.

Yours truly,
Stéphane Perrault
Chief Electoral Officer