Telephone lines may help tally off-reserve vote

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Canada's off-reserves Natives are one of the few groups represented at the constitutional table who won't know how they voted when the Oct. 26 referendum ballots are counted.

But the Native Council of Canada, which represents the 500,000 off-reserve and non-status Indians, is hoping two "1-900" telephone lines will be able to take a snapshot of the off-reserve response to the Charlottetown accord.

"It's an attempt to give some kind of opportunity for the off-reserve people to have a voice, said Native council spokesman Murray Angus.

"A 1-900 line falls far short of being an official count...But we think it is important that people have some kind of outlet. This was the best available."

Callers are given a choice between two numbers. A 19-secod recorded message from council president Ron George answers each number, indicating whether the caller supports or opposes the accord.

Bell Canada will monitor the lines, which will release results of the poll and a breakdown of the votes by area code after the referendum vote, Murray said.

While the poll has not built-in defence against those who want to vote early and often, it will give the closest picture of how the council's constituents feel about the package. Murray said the short referendum lead time and slow access to finds has hampered other efforts to poll off-reserve opinions.