Fond Du Lac Looking At Election Act Changes

Fond Du Lac Looking At Election Act Changes

Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 13:06

 

 

The Fond du Lac First Nation will hold a plebiscite next month to decide whether or not it should extend the length of time a chief serves when he or she is elected to office.

 

The band held two days of meetings this week where it discussed a proposed revamping of its election rules.

 

The band’s CEO, Darrell McDonald, says the move would give residents more stability, as leaders are currently forced to run for office every two years.

 

McDonald says the plebiscite will likely be held in mid to late June.

 

He expects it will ask residents whether a three-year or a four-year term might make more sense.

 

Some other changes to the band’s election act are being proposed, including a reduction in the length of time between the nomination meeting to the election.

 

The old timeframe was six weeks, but the band is hoping it will be shortened to four weeks.

 

There is also a proposal to cap the amount of money a chief electoral office can make during an election.

 

Another proposed new rule stipulates that anyone who owes money or property to the band has to deal with the band’s auditor before they run.

 

McDonald says many of the changes were inspired by recommendations laid out by the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples to the Assembly of First Nations.