Sign up for the northeastNOW newsletter

PBCN prepares for election

Mar 22, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Members of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) have some big decisions to make, as their election is less than three weeks away.

Nomination meetings were held Tuesday night in PBCN communities, and Electoral Officer Randy Clarke told paNOW there are five people running for chief. Incumbent Peter Beatty, who is seeking his third term, has been challenged by Shavonne Custer, Karen Bird, Tom McDermott and Jason Linklater. 

The election was scheduled to take place April 10, with advance polls to be held April 3.

Clarke said they’ve made two big changes this election. First, to address concerns raised over double-voting, an electronic voting system will be used. Clarke said the system was provided through Prince Albert Grand Council’s IT services. The second change, he said, will see members given three separate ballots: one for Chief, one for councilor, and one for Elders’ Council.