NLIS 2
January 14, 2004
(Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs)

 

Parties to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement
issue reminder of revised eligibility criteria and deadline for
applying to be on the Official Voters List

Tom Rideout, Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, and William Andersen, President of Labrador Inuit Association (LIA), today issued a reminder that the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement, initialed in August 2003, sets out criteria for eligibility to vote on the agreement different from that contained in the Agreement in Principle signed in June 2001. The ratification process is currently under way and the Inuit ratification vote will be held in 2004.

"It is critically important that potential voters become informed about the ratification process and the eligibility criteria set out in the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement," said Minister Rideout. "Although an individual may not currently be a member of LIA, they may be eligible to participate in the ratification process as a result of the revised criteria. The Inuit ratification vote is the most important decision that Inuit will make for their future. It is in the interest of all Inuit to participate in the ratification vote for this historic agreement."

William Andersen, president of Labrador Inuit Association, added, "the January 26 deadline is fast approaching. People who want to vote should make sure they are on the Official Voters List." He also stressed, "it is very important to know that 50 per cent plus one of all eligible voters must vote to approve the agreement in order for it to be approved."

The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement sets out the eligibility criteria to become a beneficiary of the agreement. The same criteria will be used for enumeration of voters who will participate in the Inuit ratification vote. The eligibility criteria have been revised since the signing of the Labrador Inuit Agreement-in-Principle. The province, Canada and LIA made the changes to the eligibility criteria in response to concerns expressed during Inuit ratification of the Agreement in Principle and during subsequent negotiations. "As a result, a person not eligible according to the criteria set out in the Agreement-in-Principle may now be enumerated to vote on the final agreement. If the agreement is ratified, they can apply to become a beneficiary," said the minister.

LIA President William Anderson reinforced this point stating, "one of the most important changes is that the criteria now include all individuals with at least one quarter Inuit ancestry regardless of where they live."

A ratification committee comprised of an independent chairperson, members jointly appointed by the LIA, the federal government and the province has been formed to conduct the vote. The committee published a Preliminary Voters List in November 2003. Individuals not on this list, who believe they may be eligible to vote, can apply to be placed on the Official Voters List. The deadline for applications is January 26, 2004.

To obtain further information on the revised eligibility criteria contained in the agreement and how to apply to be placed on the Official Voters List contact:

Ratification Committee
Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement
P.O. Box 209, Station B
21 Broomfield Street
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
A0P 1E0

Phone (709) 896-8678
1-866-896-8678
Fax (709) 896-4026

www.labradorinuit-ratification.com

Information about the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement can be found on LIA�s Web site www.nunatsiavut.com and on the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs web site www.gov.nl.ca/laa

Media contact:
Deanne Hayward, Communications
Aboriginal Affairs, (709) 729-3015

June Perry, Communications Consultant
Labrador Inuit Association, (709) 753-0794 or (709) 682-2682

2004 01 14                                      5:15 p.m.


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