Moe pushes people to Saskatchewan polls; Meili reiterates STC revival promise in P.A.

Voting in the 2020 provincial election is officially underway.

Advance polls opened at noon Tuesday across Saskatchewan. Sask. Party Leader Scott Moe took time Tuesday morning to send a message to Saskatchewan voters in front of Saskatoon Riversdale candidate Marv Friesen’s office.

“Often we look towards election day, that being Oct. 26. This year, I think given the circumstances that we’re faced with, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we should look at the election as a week-long process,” Moe said.

Advance polling continues from noon to 8 p.m. daily until Saturday.

With Moe encouraging voters to get out and exercise their democratic right to vote, he was asked why mandatory masking wasn’t implemented at Saskatchewan’s polling stations. All workers are required to wear a mask, with voters strongly encouraged to wear one.

“We have had masking rules when you are not able to physically distance,” he said, listing off “superspreader events” as examples of non-compliance with Saskatchewan’s public health orders.

“What we have in place works. The masking policy that we have in place is very clear, and it works.”

Moe said if guidelines aren’t met by Saskatchewan residents, “there’s a good chance” that they would spread COVID-19, and that residents will be fined.

With current guidelines including a two-week quarantine period if symptoms arise from COVID-19 or a positive test, it creates another challenge for Saskatchewan voters.

A symptom could mean a day away from the polls, but Moe has a message for those feeling ill or unwell heading into election day.

“If anyone does acquire symptoms in the next few days and may not be able to attend in person at a voting station, they should reach out to Elections Saskatchewan,” he said, pointing to the Elections Saskatchewan website, which can be accessed here.

Meili brings campaign to P.A., reiterates STC promise

The Saskatchewan NDP was on the road for Tuesday’s campaign stop.

Leader Ryan Meili was in Prince Albert, reiterating his plan to restart the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) if elected.

“When the Sask. Party was elected in 2016, they promised investments but delivered cuts. This STC bus is a symbol of those cuts and of the broken trust between Scott Moe and Joe Hargrave and the voters of Prince Albert,” Meili said in a media release Tuesday.

The NDP claims private passenger companies operate just 11 per cent of STC’s original points of service, which the NDP said is “leaving thousands abandoned.”