PBCN Referendum Draws Low Turnout
Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 15:35
The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation’s commercial land designation referendum last week failed — but an Indian Affairs official says the band still has some options.
Band officials have been unavailable for comment since last Wednesday’s vote.
But Indian Affairs spokesman Trevor Sutter says the band didn’t come close to attracting the necessary amount of voters.
Sutter says the requirement that a majority of band members vote is admittedly high — but the department feels it’s necessary.
In fact, department statistics indicate that only one of the the seven Saskatchewan First Nations to hold land designation votes this year was successful on its first try.
Sutter says it’s worth pointing out that the vast majority of people who did take part in last week’s referendum voted in favour of having 23 parcels of PBCN land designated for commercial development.
He says that means the band can order a new vote through band council resolution, pending department approval.
In that instance, Sutter says a band only needs to achieve a simple majority in the ensuing referendum to see the proposal go ahead.