Alberta’s two major cities are to bring in new mayors during municipal elections Monday after being led by Naheed Nenshi in Calgary and Don Iveson in Edmonton for multiple terms.
Political scientists have said the votes will show whether the two cities continue the progressive legacies of the outgoing mayors or forge ahead with a more conservative vision.
“Thank you for these last 11 years. Thank you for taking a risk on me. Thank you for taking a risk on a different and better future,” Nenshi said on social media.
“While my political story is ending, the story of Calgary is still continuing … so make sure you go and vote. Make sure you cast your ballot for a great vision of the future of this city.”
Iveson also posted a video on social media, with a final message of thanks to the people who make the city work.
“The city doesn’t build itself. We’ve built it together and look what we’ve done,” the outgoing mayor said. “I’m personally grateful to each of you.”
Three city councillors — Jeff Davison, Jeromy Farkas and Jyoti Gondek — are among more than two dozen candidates in the running for Calgary’s mayor.
In the capital, former federal Liberal cabinet minister Amarjeet Sohi and Mike Nickel, a conservative-leaning city councillor, are two of the 11 candidates.
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Both cities have seen record-high turnouts for early voting and are expected to have final tallies for the next slate of municipal representatives later Monday evening.
Albertans will also be facing referendum questions on the federal equalization program and daylight time on the ballot.
The City of Calgary reported the highest advance voter turnout to date with 141,329 ballots cast. Calgary has just under 848,000 eligible voters as of July 2021.
Albertans will also be facing referendum questions on the federal equalization program and daylight time on the ballot.
Some Calgary voters have turned to social media reporting long lineups at certain polling stations.
As of 6 p.m., the City of Calgary had reported 129,500 ballots cast since stations opened at 8 a.m.
As of 5:45 p.m., the city listed:
- 110 of 188 stations were experiencing wait times of 1 to 5 minutes;
- 38 of 188 stations were experiencing wait times of 5 to 10 minutes;
- 14 of 188 stations were experiencing wait times of 10 to 15 minutes;
- 7 of 188 stations were experiencing wait times of 15 to 20 minutes;
- 9 of 188 stations were experiencing wait times of 20 to 30 minutes;
- 10 of 188 stations were experiencing wait times of over 30 minutes.
According to a news release from the City of Calgary Monday morning, “voters may experience lines ups of up to 10-15 minutes due to COVID physical distancing measures.
“If there is a lineup and you are standing in line at 8 p.m. you will still be allowed to cast your ballot.”
In Edmonton, more than 36,000 voters had cast their ballot as of 12:50 p.m. Monday. Polls opened in Edmonton at 9 a.m.
As of 5 p.m., a total of more than 165,000 voters had cast their ballot in the Edmonton election; this number includes the 63,834 voters who cast ballots during the advance voting period.
Edmonton voters are encouraged to check out the where to vote tool on the city’s website to find their voting station and check wait times.
—More to come
With files from Global News
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