By Andrew de Souza

Band members protest for new election

Apr 28, 2011 | 12:04 PM

Members of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation took to the streets this morning to protest the recent close-call election.

The protest was led by runner-up for chief, Harold Linklater. He lost the April 14 election by just nine votes. However, under the bands election act, votes for chiefs cannot be recounted.

Linklater said that that is unacceptable in a democratic society.

“We want to show our disapproval, our disappointment and our dissatisfaction for the head electoral officer making the decision to deny a recount for the chief candidates based on a minor technicality in our election act,” he said.

Linklater and several others have officially appealed the outcome and an appeals committee will decide if there’s enough of a reason to call another election.

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About 30 people took to the streets of the urban reserve. They took issue not only with the election results, but what they saw as mismanagement of the band’s funds and programs.

“People that are in power are in there for themselves it’s not about our families, our youth, our elders,” said Marcelline Charlette, who drove five hours to get to the protest.

“Chief Dale McCallum has been elected for two terms and he’s got nothing to show for it,” said Louisa Linklater. “All the education money, all the housing money, most of the salaries and jobs have been mismanaged under his direction.”

Meanwhile, a recount for the band’s urban reserve councilor is being conducted and the results of the recount will be known in the near future.

The deadline for election appeals is tomorrow and the appeal committee will have 10 days to decide if they should hold a hearing to determine the validity of the election.

See related:

Chief responds to accusations

PBCN members prepare for P.A. protest

adesouza@panow.com