Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR REFERENDUM BALLOT

We are working with other organizations to promote an "active boycott" strategy. The idea is to redirect unsigned ballots to specified collection points instead of sending them to Elections BC to be counted.

WHAT IS AN ACTIVE BOYCOTT?

An active boycott provides a choice for individuals who want to express their opposition to the referendum process by redirecting their unsigned ballot to a local band office, labour council or church.

WHY AN ACTIVE BOYCOTT?

An active boycott allows the individual to redirect their unsigned ballot as a form of protest and an act of conscience. Sending a “spoiled ballot” to Elections BC will lend creditability to the process and may make it easier for the referendum questions to pass. The adopted regulations state “the outcome of the vote for each question is based on a threshold of 50 percent plus 1 of the validly cast votes for that question.” A spoiled ballot does not count as a “validly cast vote.” Voting no is problematic as the questions are so ambiguous that the Liberal government can interpret the answers to reflect their political goals.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE UNSIGNED BALLOTS?

The unsigned ballots will be counted. Unsigned ballots will be presented, in protest, to the Government of British Columbia or the ballots will be disposed of at a public ceremony.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE REFERENDUM PROCESS?

The questions are problematic not only for what they include, but also for what they exclude. Many of the questions are recycled status-quo positions, which the Province has advanced to deny constitutionally enshrined aboriginal rights. The Province has advanced these arguments through the courts, where they were resoundingly rejected.

Absent in the referendum is any reference to a mandate to acknowledges Crown obligations owed to Aboriginal peoples or attempt to address a century of denial of rights and title. There is no mandate to take steps to ensure the survival of distinct First Nations within their territories - by focusing on language survival, to facilitate education for non-aboriginal people about Aboriginal peoples or provide access to higher education for Aboriginal peoples. The right of self-determination is entirely absent from the mandate. Nor do the questions reflect a mandate which addresses how reconciliation will occur between the pre-existence of Aboriginal societies and the assertion of Crown sovereignty, how Aboriginal peoples can make decisions as to how the land will be used, while at the same time, co-existing with federal and provincial laws. No attention is paid to providing a path for Aboriginal Peoples and the Federal and Provincial governments to achieve a just resolution of the Land Question and thereby accomplish an enduring and lasting reconcilation between all parties.

SEND YOUR UNSIGNED BALLOT TO:

Chief Stewart Phillip
Union of BC Indian Chiefs
500 - 342 Water Street
Vancouver, BC V6B-1B6

OR

Chief Judith Sayers
Hupacasath First Nation
5323 River Road, Box 211
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 7M7

For further information go to UBCIC Referendum or call UBCIC, phone: 604-684-0231.