Saskatoon Minute: Municipal Election, Transit Fraud, and a Remembrance Day Ceremony

Saskatoon Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatoon politics

This Week In Saskatoon:

• The municipal election takes place on Wednesday, November 13th. Polls will be open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Voters must cast ballots at their designated polling station, which can be found here. However, on Election Day, Market Mall and City Hall are both Super Polls - which means that any voter can vote at these locations regardless of the ward they live in. Voters will elect their Mayor, City Council, and School Board Trustees. You can see the complete list of candidates here.
  
  
• A special pass is available for free transit to get to the polls on Election Day. Voters can obtain the pass by downloading it, taking a picture of it, or printing it, with hard copies also available at various City locations. To use the free service, individuals must show the pass to the operator upon boarding, either printed or on a mobile device. Those without a pass will need to pay the regular fare.
  
  
• Today is Remembrance Day. Canada's largest indoor Remembrance Day service takes place at the SaskTel Centre, where thousands gather annually to honour veterans. The event, which regularly attracts over 6,000 participants, will feature special tributes, including recognition of His Honour Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty, who will attend his final service in this role. Additionally, the service will highlight Al Boyce, a Gulf War veteran, marking a rare acknowledgment of Canada's involvement in that conflict. The City is offering free transit to the event.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• A recent poll revealed that social issues are a major concern for Saskatoon voters ahead of the civic election. Homelessness and shelter locations were identified by 47% of respondents as critical factors influencing their vote, with crime also a significant concern for 38%. Mental health, addictions, and affordable housing followed closely behind in voter priorities. In contrast, fewer respondents were focused on City services, infrastructure, or transit.
  
  
• During the four days of early voting in Saskatoon’s 2024 civic election, over 19,400 voters cast their ballots, representing approximately 10% of eligible voters. This turnout is similar to the 2020 advance voting numbers, when 19,666 turned out to vote.
  
  
• Saskatoon Transit has warned residents about a fraudulent social media account selling fake Go-Passes. The account claims to offer a $2.00 pass that supposedly provides six months of unlimited travel and links to a deceptive website resembling the official Saskatoon Transit page. Saskatoon Transit emphasized that it never requests personal information, such as credit card details, through social media, phone, or email.