Three people from the region are running in this month’s Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) election, which will feature many pandemic-related precautions to protect voters and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Wendy Gervais, Wayne McKenzie and Calvin Racette are vying to be the representative of Western Region 3, which borders the eastern edge of Regina, goes south to the U.S. border, north to Strasbourg, and then west to the Alberta border. Therefore, municipalities included in this area include Moose Jaw, Mossbank, Assiniboia and Swift Current.
Regional returning offices opened on April 24 and can start accepting votes on Friday, May 14, while the official election day is Saturday, May 29 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., chief electoral officer Gwen Lafond explained in a news release.
When voting, voters will need their Métis Citizenship Card or a letter from the registry stating they are registered as a Métis citizen, a valid Saskatchewan health card, and an approved identification such as a driver’s licence or something showing name and address.
Voting by mail or other forms of contactless voting are not allowed under the Saskatchewan Métis Elections Act, 2007, Lafond said. So, MN-S has taken several measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure voter safety. Protective equipment has been secured, such as face masks, barriers between voters and election officials, hand sanitizer, disinfectants and single-use pencils.
The polls will also be set up to encourage physical distancing.
Voters must be 16 years of age on election day and must be a resident of Saskatchewan for at least six months before election day. Voters can only vote in the region where they live, while they must register once they arrive at the voting location.
Métis Nation-Saskatchewan has 12 regions throughout the province where citizens can vote. Voting takes place from Friday, May 14 to Friday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the office of the regional returning officer. Meanwhile, advance polls and mobile polls are on Saturday, May 22.
Voting in advance polls and on election day in Moose Jaw occur at the Heritage Inn.
Twenty nominations were filed for the four executive positions and 34 nominations were submitted for the 12 regional representative positions, the news release said. Two positions have already been acclaimed.
Those running for president are Clem Chartier, Karen LaRocque, Glen Hector McCallum and Mary Ann Morin.
Those running for vice-president are Darrel Burnouf, Darren Deschambeault, Michelle LeClair, Dale McAuley and Gerald Morin.
Those running for secretary are Beckie Belanger, May V. Henderson, Lisa McCallum, Craig Henry Morin and Ashley Norton.
Those running for treasurer are Earl Cook, Louis G. Gardiner, Melvina Goulet, Harmonie Amanda King, John Robert LaFontaine and Dennis Langan.
Anyone interested in volunteering on election day or who needs further information should visit https://mnselection.ca.
