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Article 2

General Provisions

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2.1
Upon ratification, Canada and Manitoba shall take such steps as are necessary to give effect to all of the provisions of this Agreement.
  
     
 
2.2
Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to extend Canada's obligations to persons not defined as Indians in the Indian Act.
  
     
 
2.3
This Agreement shall be without force and effect and shall be without prejudice to the Bands until and unless ratified by the Bands by the procedure set out in this Article.
  
     
 
2.3.1
Within ten days of the signing of this Agreement by all parties, Manitoba, the Committee and Canada each shall name two representatives to constitute a Steering Committee that shall have the responsibility for the conduct and oversight of a referendum to determine whether or not this Agreement is ratified by a majority of the Members of the five Bands. One of the representatives named by Canada shall be appointed by Canada to serve as Chairman of the Steering Committee. The Chairman shall call the first meeting of the Steering Committee within fourteen days of the signing of this Agreement by all parties.
  
     
 
2.3.2
The Steering Committee shall submit a proposed budget for the conduct of the referendum to Canada and Manitoba for approval. All costs of the referendum shall be shares equally by Canada and Manitoba.
  
     
 
2.3.3
The referendum shall be completed, and the results reported in writing by the Steering Committee to the four parties within 60 days from the date of signing of this Agreement.
  
     
 
2.3.4
All decisions of the Steering Committee shall be determined by majority vote.
 
     
 
2.3.5
The Steering Committee shall name a presiding officer to be solely responsible for the conduct of the referendum on each Reserve under the direction of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall dertermine the honoraria to be paid to the presiding officer, which honoraria shall be included in the budget specified above.
  
     
 
2.3.6
The referendum will be held on each Reserve not sooner than ten days after a public meeting is held on the proncipal Reserve of the Band concerned, for the purpose of discussing this Agreement and answering questions that may be raised by band members concerning this Agreement. The meeting shall be chaired by the presiding officer who will give public notice of the time and location of the meeting not les than seven days before the meeting.
  
     
 
2.3.7
The referendum will be conducted by secret ballot in which only persons registered as members of the five bands, as of the day on which the ballot is held for the Band, shall be eligible to vote. The presiding officer shall have the sole authority to dertermine whether persons presenting themselves at the polling places are in fact the persons they purport to be, and are registered as members of the Band concerned as of the date that the ballot is held for the Band concerned.
  
     
 
2.3.8
The presiding officer shall forward the ballot box under unopened seal to the Steering Committee, in accordance with the instructions of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall open the ballot boxes and count the ballots only when all the Ballot boxes have been received by it. The Steering Committee will report the results of the ballots in writing, under confidential cover, by community, to each of the four parties. A simple majority among all ballots cast will be deemed to be a ratification of this Agreement.
  
     
 
2.3.9
The Steering Committee shall have authority to interpret the provisions of the ratification process and to adopt other requirements as may in its opinion br required provided that such requirement are not contrary to the provisions of this Agreement.
  
     
 
2.4
The obligations of Canada to Indians pursuant to the Indain Act and the obligations of Manitoba to Indian residents of Manitoba in the form of programs. projects and other funding, shall apply to the Indian residents of the Reserves, subject to the normal criteria established from time to time for the apllication of such programs and projects and shall in no way be dimnished by any entitlements pursuant ot this Agreement.
  
     
 
2.5
The parties agree that the area and boundaries of the Reserve of the York Factory Landing have not been ascertained at the date of this Agreement. Nothwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the said Band nor any member thereof shall be prejudiced by virtue thereof, in respect of any claim.
  
   

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