NLIS 2
May 26, 2004
(Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs)

 

The following statement was issued today by Thomas G. Rideout, minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise in this House today to draw the attention of the honourable members and people of our province to a very important vote that is taking place today, May 26, for the Labrador Inuit. This vote, of course, is in relation to the ratification of the land claims agreement.

Today�s vote is the culmination of decades of hard work by the Labrador Inuit Association, the federal government, as well as the provincial government. These three parties initialed the final agreement on August 29, 2003. Now eligible voters have been asked to give their approval of it. The Labrador Inuit must ratify the final agreement before it will be considered for ratification by both the provincial and federal governments.

This government certainly encourages all eligible voters to participate in the ratification of this agreement. I was encouraged to see that several hundred individuals have already voted, either through the advance poll or by mail-in ballot. I would like to remind those who are eligible to vote that failure to cast a ballot will be deemed a no vote. There are 4,300 eligible voters on the official voters list and in order for the agreement to be ratified, 50 per cent plus one must vote in favour of the agreement. I would also like to inform those who are eligible to vote that polling stations will be open until 8:00 p.m. local time in 11 locations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Inuit ratification vote is the most important decision that the Inuit will make for their future. It is in the interest of all Inuit to participate in the ratification vote for this historic agreement. The results of this vote could forever change the face of Labrador as we know it.

This will be the first comprehensive land claims agreement to be concluded in the province and in Atlantic Canada. This is an historic agreement and, in our view, is a positive step toward further self-reliance and self-determination for the Labrador Inuit.

2004 05 26                                        2:10 p.m.


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