Second vote scheduled for Muskowekwan

Muskowekwan Band membership will be returning to the polls on Feb. 25 to vote on Treaty Land Entitlement designation. If favourable, the action will designate mineral rights to the Crown which in turn would enable Canada to issue a mineral lease to Muskowekwan Resources Ltd.  Muskowekwan Resources, a wholly owned company of the First Nation, holds the mineral rights in trust. In 2010, a joint venture agreement was signed between Encanto Potash Corp. and Muskowekwan First Nation, in which Encanto would put up the money for exploration while the First Nation received royalties, which are expected to run between $50-$60 million annually. Muskowekwan will also receive preferential employment and contracting opportunities. The second vote was forced when not enough eligible voters came out to the polls on Nov. 26. The second vote requires a simple majority to allow the designation to go ahead. Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada officials will be on the First Nation to monitor the vote.