A trio of recent polls on MooseJawToday.com gave an interesting snapshot of how folks in and around the city feel about a handful of local, provincial and national issues currently in the news.
The City of Moose Jaw closed the Seventh Avenue Southwest Bridge in 2015 after floods damaged the structure. Photo by Jason G. Antonio Seventh Avenue Bridge
A poll posted on June 10 asked ‘Should the city fix the Seventh Avenue Bridge so that families have access to their homes?’
The question came out of an ongoing dispute between the City of Moose Jaw and properties owned by the Thorn and Avery families in the Wakamow Valley, which was featured in an ongoing series on the website and in the Moose Jaw Express.
The basic issue surrounds the closed bridge, which was damaged by a flood and ice flow in 2015. Since that time, the two families have had to reach their properties through the Valley View Centre complex, a deal that will change in July when the city sells the sprawling facilty and closes access.
Poll participants want to see none of that.
Of the 386 votes cast, no less than 322 – 83.42 per cent – said ‘Yes of course!” to the question, while 51 replied ‘No. Let the homeowners figure it out’ and 13 replied ‘I don’t know’.
Discussions are ongoing between the city and the property owners, but for now, the status quo remains.
People in Moose Jaw remain concerned over COVID-19. Getty Images.Phase 4 of Re-Open Saskatchewan
Voters are far more split when it comes to the latest developments in the COVID-19 outbreak and the way Saskatchewan is going about dealing with the pandemic.
A poll posted June 17 asked ‘Phase 4 will begin on Monday, June 22. What are your thoughts?’
The question stemmed from the announcement that the Government of Saskatchewan had moved forward with Phase 4.1 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan, a move that saw the indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, gyms and fitness facilities and beaches all open the public.
A total of 89 of the 179 respondents, just under 50 per cent, replied ‘It might be okay but I’m still cautious’ and 40 voters replied ‘It is too soon!’, carrying on the trend of awareness and wariness that Moose Jaw has shown since the beginning of the pandemic. A total of 47 said ‘It’s about time! This whole reopening plan is moving so slowly’ and three replied ‘I don’t know’.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Phase 4.2 of the plan – including museums, movie theatres and libraries – would begin on June 29.
Edmonton's Rexall Place is vying to become an NHL hub city when the league returns. NHL.com photoNHL return to play plans
Moose Javians apparently want no part of seeing their favourite National Hockey League players take the risk of catching COVID-19.
When asked ‘Several NHL players have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. Should the league scrap its plans to return to the ice?” on June 22, just over 70 per cent of 151 respondents said “Yes! It’s not worth the risk!”
The NHL announced on June 9 that it was planning a vastly modified 24-team playoff format that would feature best-of-five series taking place in two hub cities, which have yet to be determined.
Last week, it was announced that 11 of 200 players have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, including Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews and three from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Some local fans were far less concerned, with 34 saying ‘No. I’m sure it will be fine’ to go along with 11 ‘I don’t know’ votes.
Other major sports leagues are also planning a return in the near future, with Major League Baseball setting July 23 or 24 as Opening Day for 2020, while the NBA is planning a ‘bubble league’ completely located at Disney World in Florida, with a tentative July 30 regular season re-start date.
