The chief and council of the Muskowekwan First Nation are discussing their options after a designation vote for a proposed potash mine fell short of a majority this past weekend.
According to the Encanto Potash Corporation, Muskowewkan had 1,114 eligible voters, with 547 people who cast a ballot — so the vote requirement of 50% plus one fell short of the required threshold by 11 votes.
Encanto also says that 80% were in favour of the land designation.
Aboriginal Affairs spokesman Trevor Sutter says the band can hold another vote, even though the majority of band members have already said ‘yes’ to designating lands for potash development.
Sutter says there are also questions about deceased people and other ineligible voters on the voters list, adding the band has seven days to file an appeal on those grounds.