Vol. 145, No. 4 — February 16, 2011

Registration

SOR/2011-5 January 26, 2011

INDIAN ACT

ARCHIVED — Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Lax Kw’alaams)

Whereas, by Order in Council P.C. 1951-6016 of November 12, 1951, it was declared that the council of the Port Simpson Band, in British Columbia, shall be selected by elections to be held in accordance with the Indian Act (see footnote a);

Whereas, by Band Council Resolution dated August 19, 1982, it was resolved that the name of the band be changed to the Lax Kw’alaams Band;

Whereas the band has developed its own election code and a local community electoral system for selecting a chief and councillors;

Whereas conversion to a local community electoral system would better serve the needs of the band;

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

Therefore, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, pursuant to subsection 74(1) of the Indian Act (see footnote c), hereby makes the annexed Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Lax Kw’alaams).

Gatineau, Quebec, January 14, 2011

JOHN DUNCAN
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

ORDER AMENDING THE INDIAN BANDS COUNCIL ELECTIONS ORDER (LAX KW’ALAAMS)

AMENDMENT

1. Item 46 of Part I of Schedule I to the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (see footnote 1) is repealed.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 Order.)

Issue and objectives

The council of the Lax Kw’alaams Band has requested, through a Band Council Resolution, to be removed from the election provisions of the Indian Act. Further to the development of its own election code and local community electoral system, the band wishes to select its chief and councillors based on its own custom leadership selection process.

Currently, a band holding elections under the Indian Act can seek a change to its electoral system and a conversion to the use of a community election code by requesting from the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development an amendment to the Indian Bands Council Elections Order pursuant to subsection 74(1) of the Indian Act.

The Order Amending theIndian Bands Council Elections Order is of interest to and is limited to the Lax Kw’alaams Band. The conversion to a local community electoral system will serve to build and strengthen the band’s governance autonomy and better address the needs of the community.

Description and rationale

The Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order, made pursuant to subsection 74(1) of the Indian Act, purports to remove the Lax Kw’alaams Band from the application of the election provisions of the Indian Act.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada’s (INAC) Conversion to Community Election System Policy allows a band holding elections under the Indian Act to request a change to its electoral system and convert to the use of a community election code. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada must be satisfied that the band has developed suitable election rules, and that the rules and the removal have received support of the community members.

On November 19, 2009, the council of the Lax Kw’alaams Band held a ratification vote by secret ballot to determine whether a majority of the electorate was in favour of the band being removed from the application of the election provisions of the Indian Act and of adopting the proposed election code. Electors residing off-reserve were allowed to cast their ballot through a mail-in ballot process. The total number of eligible electors was 2339. In total, 929 ballots were cast, 457 voted in favour of the election code and 440 voted against the election code, and there were 7 spoiled ballots.

On November 24, 2009, the council of the Lax Kw’alaams Band submitted a Band Council Resolution requesting that the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development issue an order revoking the application of section 74 of the Indian Act for the band.

The community election code of the Lax Kw’alaams Band and the community ratification process that has taken place being compliant with INAC’s Conversion to Community Election System Policy, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development no longer deems it advisable for the good governance of the Lax Kw’alaams Band that the chief and council be selected by elections to be held in accordance with the Indian Act. Consequently, the Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order ensures that members of the Lax Kw’alaams Band can conduct a leadership selection process according to their own values.

There is no cost consequence associated with the removal of the Lax Kw’alaams Band from the election provisions of the Indian Act. Henceforth, the Lax Kw’alaams Band will assume full responsibility for the conduct of the entire electoral process.

Consultation

The Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order is made at the request of the Lax Kw’alaams Band and its members. The community election code underwent a community ratification process, wherein a majority of the votes cast by the band’s electors were in favour of an amendment being brought to the Indian Bands Council Elections Order and all future elections being conducted in accordance with the aforementioned code.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada provided assistance in the development of the community election code of the Lax Kw’alaams Band, which in turn fulfils Canada’s commitment to strengthen Aboriginal governance.

Implementation, enforcement and service standards

Compliance with its community election code, the conduct of elections and disputes arising therefrom are now the responsibility of the Lax Kw’alaams Band.

Contact

Nathalie Nepton
Director
Band Governance Directorate
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
10 Wellington Street, Section 18A
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H4
Telephone: 819-994-6735
Fax: 819-997-0034
Email: Nathalie.Nepton@ainc-inac.gc.ca

Footnote a
R.S., c. I-5

Footnote b
R.S., c. I-5

Footnote c
R.S., c. I-5

Footnote 1
SOR/97-138