Research areas

LABEL is structured around a major research project aiming to provide, across a number of research activities, an in-depth explanation of the many variations of municipal electoral participation in Canada. It sets out with a study of 197 municipalities of more than 20,000 inhabitants. Subsequently, the research will be extended to other municipalities. Two major objectives frame the project:

Objective 1: To collect, centralize and standardize a body of data at the municipal level

  • 1.1 Collect, centralize and standardize the municipal electoral data from these municipalities from 2002 on;
  • 1.2 Collect socio-spatial and socio-economic data from the 2001, 2006 and 2011 community profiles compiled by Statistics Canada;
  • 1.3 Collect data on institutions and rules governing municipal democracy and identify recent changes (electronic voting, etc.) through the analysis of relevant legislation;

Objective 2: Advance knowledge on municipal electoral participation

  • 2.1 Test the variables that influence municipal electoral participation by means of a quantitative analysis in the cities studied in order to lay the groundwork for a deeper understanding of Canadian municipal voting behaviour;
  • 2.2 Establish two portraits on themes that are still little explored—the modernization of municipal elections (e-voting, etc.), and the political parties—
  • 2.3 Develop collaborations with the ministries and agencies concerned in order to ensure the continuity of the centralization of electoral data, to advance the popularization of this kind of information, and to participate in building tools and guidelines for increasing voter turnout.