Odanak Added to First Nations Elections

Summary#

This order, Order Amending the Schedule to the First Nations Elections Act (Odanak) (SOR/2023-142), adds Odanak to the list of First Nations covered by the First Nations Elections Act and sets the date of its first council election for November 25, 2023. The order was registered on June 19, 2023 and was signed by Patricia Hajdu.

What it does#

• Adds Odanak as entry 84 to the schedule of the First Nations Elections Act.
• Fixes the first election date for the council of Odanak as November 25, 2023.
• States that the order comes into force on the day it was registered (the registration date was June 19, 2023).
• The order was signed in Gatineau on June 15, 2023 by Patricia Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services.

Who's affected#

• Members and residents of Odanak — they will vote in a council election under the First Nations Elections Act on November 25, 2023.
• People who plan to run for council in Odanak, and those who organize and run the election.
• Officials in Indigenous Services and other agencies who support or oversee federally governed First Nations elections.

Why it matters#

• It authorizes a federally governed election process for Odanak and gives a clear date for the community's first council vote under that law.
• That date sets the timetable for candidates, voters, and election administrators to prepare.
• For community members, the outcome will determine local leadership and who represents them in local decisions.