Getting the First Nations vote out for the next federal election could be a game-changer
First Nations vote could be a game-changer
BY KERRY BENJOE, THE LEADER-POST JANUARY 28, 2015
A looming federal election has grassroots organizations urging aboriginal people to vote. Such groups believe this segment of the population has the numbers to sway ridings in their favour if they opt to vote as a bloc. However, in past federal and provincial elections there has been very low voter turnout among aboriginal people.
Photograph by: Christina Ryan , Calgary Herald
A looming federal election has grassroots organizations urging aboriginal people to vote. Such groups believe this segment of the population has the numbers to sway ridings in their favour if they opt to vote as a bloc. However, in past federal and provincial elections there has been very low voter turnout among aboriginal people.
Based on statistics, here is a sample of how the aboriginal vote looks in the province.
Since the last National Housing Survey (NHS) and federal election in 2011, the number of eligible aboriginal voters has potentially increased.
Over the past two decades, the aboriginal population has increased throughout Canada.
* In 1996, the aboriginal population represented only 2.8 per cent of the Canadian population,
* In 2001, it increased to 3.3 per cent
* In 2006, it increased to 3.8 per cent
* In 2011, it increased to 4.3 per cent.
The trend will likely continue because the aboriginal population is young.
According to the 2011 NHS, 28 per cent of the aboriginal population was under the age of 14 and the majority of the aboriginal population is located in Ontario and Western Canada. Aboriginal includes those of First Nation, Metis or Inuit descent.
In Saskatchewan, approximately 50 per cent of First Nations people live on reserve. There are 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.
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If a federal election had been called before May 1, 2014, Regina would have had four ridings within its boundaries: Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre, Regina-Qu'Appelle, Wascana and Palliser.
If an election is called after May 1 then the ridings will change to Regina-Lewvan, Regina-Qu'Appelle and Regina-Wascana.
The riding that could be most impacted by the aboriginal vote would be the Regina-Qu'Appelle riding because it encompasses 12 First Nations.
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In 2011, the riding's incumbent Conservative MP and Speaker of the House Andrew Scheer retained his seat by less than 5,000 votes:
* Scheer 15,896
* NDP Fred Clipsham 11,419
* Liberal Jackie Miller 1,400
* Green Party Gregory Chatterson 897
* Independent Jeff Breti 127
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According to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada the population breakdown is as follows:
Further north, the equivalent riding that would be most impacted would be the Battlefords-Lloydminster riding, which encompasses nine First Nations - Thunderchild, Saulteaux, Mosquito, Red Pheasant, Sweet Grass, Little Pine, Poundmaker, Moosomin and Onion Lake. As well as the Dessnethe-Missinipi-Churchill where aboriginal people comprise the majority of the population.
Guidelines
This year, Elections Canada introduced stricter voting guidelines that could impact the aboriginal vote.
* Each voter must prove his or her physical address on paper, the old practice of having a second person vouch for a voter's address will no longer be acceptable. However, many reserves lack regular street addresses.
* Elections Canada will also no longer accept Indian status cards alone as identification.
* Elections Canada requires each person lacking identification that includes an address to have a different registered voter swear an oath as to the technical land description of their home or a letter from the First Nation confirming the location, along with a piece of identification with the voter's name.