(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Election delays

COVID outbreak forces postponement in PBCN election

Apr 11, 2021 | 10:00 AM

Members of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation will head to the polls Tuesday, but the results of who gets elected Chief may not be known until some time after.

Due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within the Sturgeon Landing reserve, all election activities in the community have been postponed. Head Electoral Officer Burke Ratte advised that all other communities will proceed with their regular election activities on April 13.

“The ballots cast for Chief of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation will not be finalized until Sturgeon Landing Reserve has completed their election activities at a later date,” he said.

That means only the votes for councillors in the voting communities will be counted after the polls close. As of Friday, Ratte could not offer paNOW a definitive date when the remainder of the voting could take place, re-iterating the decision to postpone was based on advice from medical professionals.

There are six candidates vying for the job of Chief: Karen Bird, Simon Jobb, Roland Natewayes, Horace Morin, Weldon McCallum, and Jason Linklater. Incumbent Peter Beatty retired after three terms, and nearly 30 years in total on council.

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There’s also elections for 14 councillors, as well as the elder’s council.

Polls are open Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell