To: Membership, Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation
From: Chief Electoral Officer, Loretta Pete Lambert, Councillor Leighanne Gardipy, Councillor Tyrone Smallchild
Date: March 24, 2020
Re: 2020 BOCN General Election
On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Council met in a final meeting to assess elections. The Council decided it would be in the best interest of the Nation to proceed with nominations and elections with strict precautions in place (see notice here – 2020 BOCN Nominations & Election Precautionary Measures: COVID-19)
Ensuring that a governing body is in place for the Nation is crucial, if the election does not occur on March 27, 2020, this will create a governance gap and the Nation will not have a government. The election will continue to move forward as previously motioned by Council, with precautionary measures and guidance from a professional health authority.
Communications have been coordinated between the Chief Electoral Officer and professional health authority staff. The Regional Director of Primary Health Care and Public Health provided a guidance document to the Chief Electoral Officer to utilize for our election.
These are unprecedented times, for all of us. Please keep in mind the critical aspects of having a government in place for our Nation:
- will ensure a line of communication between our Nation and the Provincial and Federal governments;
- will advocate and negotiate as a governing authority for our Nation.
Please also keep in mind that due to the newness of the COVID-19 virus, health authorities could not comment with certainty on whether the risk would decrease or increase shoud elections occur in 30-60 days.
Election Polls
Date: Friday, March 27, 2020
9:00am to 6:00pm
On-Reserve Poll:
Veterans Hall, Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation
Off-Reserve Poll:
Quality Inn (Sedona Room), 1715 Idylwyld Drive, Saskatoon, SK
*PLEASE RESPECT HEALTH AND SAFETY DIRECTIONS OF ELECTION STAFF INCLUDING SECURITY*
<<ORIGINAL SIGNED BY>>
Chief Electoral Officer, Loretta Pete Lambert
Councillor Leighanne Gardipy
Councillor Tyrone Smallchild
*View the original, signed document here.
