The 2024 provincial election has been put to bed with all the votes counted.  There was a higher turnout this time with 56% of eligible voters casting ballots compared to 52% in 2020.  Even 56% is nothing to be proud of meaning 44% of people who have the right to help choose who governs the province gave up the right to complain for the next four years, well at least that’s the old theory.    Of course, today is “E” Day in our cities, towns, villages and RM’s to elect mayors, reeves, councillors and school trustees.  Last time I looked, our province had 296 RM’s, 239 villages, 147 towns and 16 cities, the largest being Saskatoon that has two other cities within its metropolitan area, which does sound strange.   Voter turnout in Saskatoon November 2020?  A dismal 27.41%.  It could be argued there were extenuating circumstances with the Covid Pandemic restrictions plus we were in the aftermath of a huge snowstorm on November 8 that had forced Election Day to be postponed from November 9 to November 13, same date as this year.   We also had a provincial election on October 26, 2020.   This year we still had a close provincial election but we can’t blame weather conditions for not voting.  So, let’s beat that terrible turnout from four years ago and exercise our right to vote, and by doing so, have the right to complain. 

That’s Coffeetalk.  I’m Vic Dubois.