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P.A seniors angry with City Council over poll locations

May 26, 2016 | 12:32 PM

A group of Prince Albert seniors are not too happy with City Council.

They showed up to Tuesday’s Executive Committee, demanding there be special polls on election day at Sherman Towers, Northcote Manor and Carmen Court. 

These polling stations were among the seven removed when council was discussing poll station locations earlier this year. However, they do not qualify as special polls because that designation has been reserved for hospitals and care home type facilities.

Speaking on behalf of the seniors’ group, Doris Lund said she was concerned how seniors would get out to vote.

“On election day, Oct. 26, there could be a foot of snow.  I remember the city receiving such a heavy snowfall on Thanksgiving weekend that schools were closed for a day,” Lund said.

For residents of all three locations, the nearest poll will be less than three blocks away.

The city will be offering free transportation on Election Day, but this information provided little comfort for the group. 

Lund said seniors deserve more respect.

“Where would this city be without seniors? Many seniors work long hours volunteering their services to improve Cooke Municipal Golf Course,” she said.

The City opted to reduce the number of polling station this election from 19 to 12 because a number of polling stations in the last election were being underutilized.  The city has also had trouble finding workers, and staff felt reducing the total number of polls could be more effective.

Lund said she did not buy the argument and added she herself could phone a number of people willing to help.

Charlie Squires was next to address the city councillors and challenged them to take better care of the city’s seniors.

‘How many of you councillors have looked after a senior before you went to the golf course? My prayer is this, please put our polls back to where they belong,” Squires said.

At the end of the discussion, Mayor Greg Dionne put forward a motion to re-instate the polls but the motion was defeated.

“A lot of these councillors shouldn’t be councillors.  I’ll do everything in my power to make sure they don’t get a vote from any senior,” Squires said after the meeting.

The matter will come up again at city council on June 6.

 

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell