New Twist in Black Lake Election Dispute

New Twist in Black Lake Election Dispute

Friday, December 12, 2003 at 15:59

The chief electoral officer of a northern First Nation is being forced to change the location of a nomination meeting because band officials won’t give her the keys to the band hall.

Eileen Bruno is the returning officer for the Black Lake First Nation, which has been embroiled in an election dispute.

Band members voted to have a new election after allegations surfaced that off-reserve members were flown into Black Lake for their votes in the band election held last January.

The nomination meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow night at 6 o’clock, but because Bruno doesn’t have access to the band hall, she’s ordered the meeting to take place in a local pool hall.

A new election is expected to take place later this month sometime between Christmas and New Year’s Day.