From: Russ Diabo [mailto:russdi...@rogers.com]
Sent: July-10-12 5:57 AM
To: Russ Diabo
Subject: TIMES COLONIST: Opponents of Sliammon treaty lose court battle to stop
vote
Opponents of Sliammon treaty lose court battle to stop vote
Canadian PressJuly 10, 2012 3:04 AM
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has rejected a call to delay a First Nations treaty
vote that has caused deep divisions within the community.
The Sliammon First Nation, located near Powell River, has been negotiating a
treaty with the provincial and federal governments for the past 18 years.
The initial treaty vote was prevented last month when the group calling itself
the Protectors of Sliammon Sovereignty stopped members from entering the
polling station.
The same group went to court Monday, claiming that voting abnormalities and
flawed voter enrolment should force the court to delay today's vote.
But Judge John Savage ruled late Monday that "there is no evidence the process
itself is flawed."
He added the argument should have been heard by a federal court because the
B.C. Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over such cases.
The sovereignty group's lawyer, Katherine Hensel, told the court earlier that
the voting process was "rushed" and "sloppy."
But Gregory McDade, the lawyer for the Sliammon Treaty Society, argued the
opposition has had ample time to formally protest the process and said today's
vote should proceed.
McDade alleged the request for an injunction was a desperate attempt by treaty
opponents to stop a vote it was likely to lose.
About 700 people are eligible to vote. If ratified, the treaty would give band
members more than 8,300 hectares of land, self government and $30 million in
cash.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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