OTTAWA—The Liberal government has selected Saskatchewan’s top elections official to lead Elections Canada into the 2019 federal campaign, the Star has learned.

Multiple sources confirm that Michael Boda, the chief electoral officer of Saskatchewan, is the government’s pick to succeed former Elections Canada CEO Marc Mayrand.

The Regina-born and raised Boda has served as Saskatchewan’s top election official since 2012. He was originally scheduled to stay in that role until 2021.

When contacted by the Star on Wednesday, Boda declined to comment. Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould’s office also refused to confirm Boda’s selection.

“Elections Canada plays an integral role in administering our federal elections,” wrote Nicky Cayer, a spokesperson for Gould’s office, in an emailed statement.

“We are actively moving forward in the process to appoint a new chief electoral officer, and are consulting with opposition parties before a new CEO is nominated. We look forward to welcoming a new chief electoral officer soon.”

Opposition sources said the Liberals recommended Boda in a letter Wednesday morning, a day after the Star contacted the government to confirm the nomination.

The position of Elections Canada CEO has been vacant since Mayrand stepped down in December 2016. Since then, however, a host of new challenges have arisen to face the agency as it prepares for a general election in 2019.

In 2017, Canada’s electronic spy agency warned that it was likely outside groups would attempt to influence the outcome of the election. Earlier this year, a paper published by the Canadian Security Intelligence Agency warned Western governments are facing a torrent of disinformation and propaganda aimed at undermining the democratic process.

Gould has also signaled the Liberals are preparing new rules for third party advertising in the 2019 election, and the government is openly musing about regulations for social media companies that were used to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

“Because it’s taken so long, the job has become harder for the new chief electoral officer when they finally get appointed,” said NDP MP Nathan Cullen in an interview Wednesday.

“He’s going to, in a very short time, devise protections for our vote that have never existed before, because the threats are new, they’re complicated, they’re insidious. We have spending reforms that he has to bring in, and what we’ve been told by Elections Canada in the past is that … the planning for an election is done a minimum of 18 months before.”

“Voters may not realize this, but the running of a general election in Canada, with the size, the language and complexity, takes a huge effort.”

Cullen and the NDP also took issue with the process leading to Boda’s recommendation, suggesting the government did not meaningfully consult with opposition parties about the appointment of an officer of parliament.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Boda has worked on electoral issues for more than a decade, providing advice to countries including Jordan, Pakistan, Ghana, Scotland and the United States. He’s also worked with the United Nations Development Programme and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Boda holds a doctorate of law from Oxford University, as well as a doctorate of political science from John Hopkins.