The decision as to who will host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games is just over three months away, and now there is talk that Vancouver’s 2010 bid may have to undergo another plebiscite.
The CBC reports that although an agreement was signed by former Mount Currie Indian band chief Allen Stager last year pledging the band’s support for Vancouver’s bid, newly elected band chief Leonard Andrew believes band members support the idea of a vote. The pledge included several agreements involving money, job opportunities, and land transfers.
The Vancouver proposal calls for sports venues to be built on land the Pemberton-area band considers its traditional territory.
Andrew said, “I think that’s why the people of Lil’wat have wanted a change in government really because of the fact that the other council didn’t want to deal with a plebiscite”.
Despite those signed agreements Chief Andrew says the band will revisit the issue, even though it could mean withdrawing support for the bid.
“If it happens, of course, then we’ll just deal with it. Whatever agreements have been made etc., we’ll just take it from there”, he said.
Andrew says the current agreements with the province and the bid corporation are still in place, but that could change depending on the vote.
