Snowfall causes local state of emergency in Cape Breton, delays P.E.I. byelection

Many Maritimers had to dig themselves out of a fresh dump of snow Monday morning as the region continues to grapple with a storm that left many schools, universities and government offices closed.

Many Maritimers had to dig themselves out of a fresh dump of snow Monday morning as the region continues to grapple with a storm that left many schools, universities and government offices closed.

Cape Breton got some of the worst of it over the weekend, with some spots potentially receiving upwards of 80 centimetres of snow. On Sunday, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality declared a state of local emergency to address the snowfall in the area.

“Residents are directed to shelter in place and advised to clear snow from their home’s entryways, walkways and driveway to facilitate home access,” a news release from the municipality read. “Residents should also remove snow from ventilation points at your home.

“Do not travel. Roadways are being cleared for emergency response and travel of essential workers. The process is slow and plows require several passes to deal with the significant accumulation.”

The municipality noted city hall and municipal services will be closed Monday. Transit Cape Breton will also not be operational.

In a news release, Elections PEI said the ordinary polling day for the District 19 byelection will be postponed Monday due to the storm. It will instead happen from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

"We want voters to exercise their right to vote, but in a safe manner," said Tim Garrity, CEO of Elections PEI, in the release. "We also keep in mind the safety of our election workers."