City encouraging people to make a plan for Monday morning commute, voting

Despite the winter storm that rocked Saskatoon on Sunday, city officials are still encouraging voters to take part in the civic election.

City manager Jeff Jorgenson says it isn’t an option to move election day.

“There are no snow days for elections. The election must continue, so the election will occur tomorrow,” Jorgenson said during a news conference on Sunday afternoon.

Goran Lazic, the senior transportation engineer with the City of Saskatoon, said his department is doing everything it can to ensure citizens are able to vote Monday.

“If polling stations are affected by the snowfall to the point they aren’t accessible or streets are impassable, our crews will address those situations and will respond appropriately,” said Lazic.

Lazic says between the city and contractors, up to 200 people have been dealing with the snowfall in Saskatoon, working with 27 graders, 18 sanders, eight high-speed plows and five sidewalk plows.

Pamela Goulden-McLeod, the city’s director of emergency management, says the key for residents is to have a plan to vote, as well as for their Monday morning commute.

“We are expecting there to be some slowdowns, so we really want you to think about how you are going to vote, how you are getting to work and to pre-plan for leaving earlier and working with colleagues and friends to make that happen,” said McLeod.

Terri Lang with Environment Canada says the snowfall is expected to taper off overnight, but because there will still be wind, drivers can expect to see more blowing and drifting snow for their Monday morning commute.