Vote falls on ‘coldest day of the year’

Election day could be the frostiest day of the year, and not just for the losing candidates.

In fact, the period between Jan. 20 and Jan. 29 — the election is the 23rd — is called the dead of winter because statistically it is Toronto’s coldest time of year, says Environment Canada meteorologist David Phillips.

“ The 23rd represents on average the coldest day of the year ( in Toronto),” Phillips said.

Politicians worry that weather could be a major factor in determining whether voters show up at the polls. The city’s coldest Jan. 23 on record dates back to Canada’s centennial. Temperatures dropped to a bone- chilling minus 31.1C on Jan. 23, 1967.

Historically, the average low has been minus 10.9C and the high has been minus 2.4C.

Voters can also expect to slog through snowdrifts on the way to the polling station, as the white stuff has fallen nearly 70 per cent of the time on that day. The biggest dumping of snow the city ever received on that day was 39.9 cm in 1966.

In addition, Toronto will have only 9.5 hours of daylight on Jan. 23. The polls in Ontario are open 12 hours, from 9: 30 a. m. until 9: 30 p. m.

“ That’s an issue. Some people will be voting in the dark,” Phillips said. NDP leader Jack Layton will likely not have to worry about

that. He’ll probably be out early to vote in his Toronto- Danforth riding, where his main competition is Liberal Deborah Coyne.

Based on statistical data, election day could be frostier ( and almost certainly snowier) for Prime Minister Paul Martin, who will vote in Montreal.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper will vote in Calgary, home of the chinook, and who knows what the weather could be like there.

Elections Canada takes weather conditions seriously, and with good reason — Chief Electoral Officer of Canada JeanPierre Kingsley told the CBC that if there were a major snowstorm on Jan. 23 that stopped Canadians from voting, the actual election in affected ridings could be delayed for weeks.

Kingsley has authority under the Canada Elections Act to suspend an election if a snowstorm affected the opening of polling stations.

However, Kingsley has never had to use the power. The last federal election was on June 28, 2004, with a high of