Mississaugas of Scugog Island Custom Elections

Summary#

This is the Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation). It removes the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation from the election rules of the Indian Act and lets the community run future chief and council elections under its own custom election code. The order came into force when it was registered on February 12, 2025, and the first election under the custom code is set for June 20, 2025.

What it does#

• Repeals Item 50 of Part V of Schedule I to the Indian Bands Council Elections Order, which effectively ends application of the Indian Act election rules to the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.
• Recognizes that the First Nation will use its own custom election code to choose the chief and councillors.
• Fixes the date of the first election under the custom code as June 20, 2025.
• Shifts responsibility for running elections and handling election disputes from the federal government to the First Nation itself.
• Notes that Indigenous Services Canada reviewed the community’s code to ensure it includes things like secret-ballot voting, an appeals process, and compliance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms before approving the change.

Who's affected#

• Members (electors) of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.
• People planning to run for chief or council under the community’s custom rules.
• Local election administrators within the First Nation, who will run the process and handle disputes.
• The federal department (Indigenous Services Canada) and the Minister of Indigenous Services will no longer run or decide on these local elections.
• If there are unresolved disputes, those may be taken to the courts under the First Nation’s code or general law.

If this sounds unclear for specific situations (for example, how candidacy rules change), the First Nation’s election code is the controlling document.

Why it matters#

• It gives the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation more control over how its leaders are chosen. That can let the community use rules that reflect local traditions, timing, and accessibility needs.
• The federal government stops administering these elections and won’t interpret or enforce the code; the community must run and defend its own process.
• The change followed a community ratification vote (held over 43 days and closed on December 13, 2024) in which 110 electors voted, with 64 in favour and 46 opposed — showing majority support among those who voted.
• For members, this could mean different voting methods, nomination rules, timelines, or dispute processes compared with past Indian Act elections. For most Canadians outside the community, there is little direct effect.