It was a quiet night at local bars and restaurants during Monday’s federal election.
At Studabakers on Mississaga Street, not one television in the entire restaurant was broadcasting the election coverage, which didn’t bother Dylan Kay who was enjoying some chicken wings and a beer while watching the Toronto Blue Jays game.
Kay has been following the election closely and did vote, but he doesn’t expect the nation to learn the results of the election any time soon.
“With all the mail-in votes, I have a feeling it’s going to be about a week delay until we find out anything,” he said.
Kay, a mechanic who works in the trades industry, says he has a vested interest in the election.
“The last couple of years have been hard for us, people aren’t going to work, they aren’t spending money on their vehicles, and essentially we are moving into a recession,” he explained.
“I’m hoping that after this election people will want to get out and work again. Hopefully, people won’t have to worry about what’s going to happen with their homes and things like that.”
While Kay is intrigued by the election, he says there is no point in following along with tonight’s coverage.
“It’s guaranteed to be four or five days, maybe even a week before we even hear anything. So, I might as well sit here and watch the Blue Jays play,” he said.
Over in West Ridge at St. Louis Bar & Grill, the election was on the biggest television in the house. However, it was Monday Night Football and the Toronto Blue Jays games that were attracting the attention of the few groups of people still in the restaurant around 10 p.m.
“I don’t think the election will be over tonight, I think it’s going to be three or four days before the results are in,” said Mark Genno, who was sitting at the bar enjoying a cold beer.
“Traditionally, I would watch election right to the bitter end and wait for the results, but I just don’t feel the results will be in tonight."
Genno has been following the election closely, but for him, tonight’s must-see TV is the Packers/Lions and the Blue Jays hunt for a postseason berth.
“There is a finality to these games, there will be no finality to the election tonight, which is unfortunate,” he said.
“Believe me, the election is my priority but because there is no finality and you get a double whammy of sports, that’s where I’ve turned my focus.”