New Election Act Approved in Black Lake

New Election Act Approved in Black Lake

Friday, April 30, 2004 at 15:20

 

 

Members of the Black Lake First Nation have overwhelmingly approved their new election act.

 

In a ratification vote held yesterday, members voted 251 to 16 in favour of the new election code.

 

Electoral consultant A.J. Felix says the vote reflects the wishes of both on- and off-reserve members.

 

The band revamped its election act in order to avoid a repeat of the crisis earlier this year that saw two groups in the community claiming to be chief and council.

 

The band currently doesn’t have a chief and council, but is under third party management until it holds another election under the new guidelines.

 

Felix says an absence of elected officials in Black Lake is hurting affairs in the community.

 

The next order of business will be to select a new chief electoral officer for the band, as well as an appeal board.

 

That’s expected to take place this afternoon at a band meeting in Black Lake.

 

Felix says an election will likely take place in Black Lake before the end of May.