T’exelc Referendum Policy Summary & Recommendations June 2002 The Referendum Policy is in diaft form, we are currently going through community consultation and plan to have it reviewed by a lawyer next month If the policy is legally sound it may be adopted as a by-law The main issue the community has to decide is what number of votes do you want in order for the results of a referendum to be legally binding on the band. ‘This means what is the MINIMUM number of votes that are acceptable to you as community members to go along with the vote. Example: If 150 people are eligible to vote (say there are 150 band members over the age of 18) Scenario A) 51% of eligible voters have to agree (77 people have to vote “yes” to pass - it doesn’t matter how many people vote in total, as long as 51% of the eligible voting population votes one way) Scenario B) $1% of votes have to agree (this means that even if only 20 people voted, 11 votes would decide on behalf of everyone ~ this is the standard used by British Columbia.) Scenario C) (this was the standard of the T'exeic referendum tast fall) 70% of people have to vote (105 people) and 70% have to agree (74 people) 50 people) and out of the | 33 people) Scenario D) 33% of voters have to vote (33% = one-third votes, 66% have to agree (66% = two-thirds RECOMMENDATIO) I recommend Scenario D because: Scenario A has already failed twice for Westbank First Nation (they were short by TWO votes last month) Scenario B is too open for the chance of a few people deciding on behalf of everyone ‘Scenario C, although ideal, is almost impossible to reach. Historically in this community, and in BC and Canada and other jurisdictions, this threshold has never been met. If we set our standards too high, we are setting ourselves up for Gisappointment. For more information or to see the whole policy draft, talk to your Family Council Rep or contact Alberta Archie, Self Government Coordinator. Kukstsetseme Page 1 of 2 See over for the resulls of Westbank’ last referendum. ‘Westbank is currently working on chanaina the requirementec for their referendunis.