Vol. 150, No. 21 — October 19, 2016

Registration

SOR/2016-263 September 30, 2016

INDIAN ACT

Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Pine Creek)

Whereas, by Order in Council P.C. 1952-3692 of August 6, 1952, it was declared that the council of the Pine Creek First Nation, in Manitoba, shall be selected by elections to be held in accordance with the Indian Act (see footnote a);

Whereas the council of the Pine Creek First Nation adopted a resolution, dated June 27, 2016, requesting that the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development add the name of the First Nation to the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act (see footnote b);

And whereas the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development no longer deems it advisable for the good government of that First Nation that its council be selected by elections held in accordance with the Indian Act (see footnote c);

Therefore, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, pursuant to subsection 74(1) of the Indian Act (see footnote d), makes the annexed Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Pine Creek).

Gatineau, September 30, 2016

Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Pine Creek)

Amendment

1 Item 30 of Part IV of Schedule I to the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (see footnote 1) is repealed.

Coming into Force

2 This Order comes into force on the day on which it is registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the orders.)

Issues

The council of the Pine Creek First Nation, in Manitoba, governed by the Indian Act, adopted a resolution on June 27, 2016, requesting that the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development add the name of the First Nation to the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act, and fix the date of its first election under this Act at January 4, 2017.

A First Nation that holds its elections under the Indian Act and that is seeking a change to its electoral system by opting into the First Nations Elections Act must be concurrently removed from the Indian Bands Council Elections Order, made under the Indian Act, and added to the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act.

Background

Subsection 74(1) of the Indian Act provides authority for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to make an order providing that the council of a band shall be selected by elections to be held in accordance with the Indian Act. First Nations for which such an order has been made appear on the Indian Bands Council Elections Order.

Section 3 of the First Nations Elections Act provides authority for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to make an order to add the name of a First Nation to the schedule to the Act, after which the council of that First Nation shall be selected by elections held in accordance with the First Nations Elections Act.

On August 6, 1952, an order was made, under section 74 of the Indian Act, for the council of the Pine Creek First Nation to be selected by elections to be held in accordance with the Indian Act. The name of the First Nation appears on Schedule I to the Indian Bands Council Elections Order. On June 27, 2016, the council of the Pine Creek First Nation adopted a resolution asking the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to add the name of the First Nation to the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act so that the election of its chief and councillors can be held under that Act.

Objective

By virtue of two orders respectively made under subsection 74(1) of the Indian Act and section 3 of the First Nations Elections Act by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the name of the Pine Creek First Nation is

By choosing to hold its elections under the First Nations Elections Act, the Pine Creek First Nation will especially benefit from its band council having a four-year term of office, and from election rules that offer a shorter election period, a robust process for the distribution of mail-in ballots and for the nomination of candidates, and the ability to hold advance polling stations to increase voter participation and reduce dependency on mail-in ballots. The cost of elections will also be reduced primarily due to elections being held every four years instead of every two years.

The Pine Creek First Nation’s leaders elected under the First Nations Elections Act and the First Nations Elections Regulations will be better positioned to make solid business investments, carry out long-term planning and build relationships, leading to increased economic development and job creation for the community.

Description

The Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Pine Creek), made pursuant to subsection 74(1) of the Indian Act, removes the application of the election provisions of the Indian Act for the Pine Creek First Nation. The Order Amending the Schedule to the First Nations Elections Act (Pine Creek), made pursuant to section 3 of the First Nations Elections Act, adds the Pine Creek First Nation as a participating First Nation under the Act and fixes the date of the first election of the council at January 4, 2017.

“One-for-One” Rule

The “One-for-One” Rule does not apply to these orders, as they do not result in any administrative costs or savings to business.

Small business lens

The small business lens does not apply to these orders, as they do not result in any costs for small business.

Consultation

Given that opting into the First Nations Elections Act is made at the request of a First Nation, it is not considered necessary to undertake consultations over and above those already conducted by the Pine Creek First Nation with its members.

Rationale

The name of the Pine Creek First Nation is being removed from Schedule I of the Indian Bands Council Elections Order pursuant to the Indian Act and is being added to the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act at the request of the council of the First Nation, which believes that the First Nations Elections Act presents a better electoral option for the First Nation that will benefit the community.

Implementation, enforcement and service standards

There are no compliance and enforcement requirements and no implementation or ongoing costs which can be directly associated with terminating the application of the election provisions of the Indian Act and amending the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act for the Pine Creek First Nation.

In compliance with the First Nations Elections Act and the First Nations Elections Regulations, the conduct of elections and disputes arising from them are the responsibility of the Pine Creek First Nation and the electoral officer appointed by the First Nation. However, the Act provides that an election can be contested by application to a federal or provincial court. The offences and penalties provided in the Act — which are enforced by local law enforcement and prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada — will deter questionable election activities, such as vote buying, bribery and voter intimidation. Under the Act, the courts are able to impose fines and terms of imprisonment on persons found guilty of an offence.

Contact

Marc Boivin
Director
Governance Policy and Implementation
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
10 Wellington Street, 8th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H4
Telephone: 819-994-6735
Fax: 819-953-3855
Email: Marc.Boivin@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca