Semiahmoo Opts into First Nations Elections Act

Summary#

The Order Amending the Indian Bands Council Elections Order (Semiahmoo) (SOR/2026-49) removes the Semiahmoo First Nation from the list of communities that must hold band elections under the Indian Act. The change took effect when the order was registered on March 18, 2026 and enables Semiahmoo to hold future elections under the First Nations Elections Act instead.

What it does#

• Removes Semiahmoo from the part of the Indian Bands Council Elections Order that made its council subject to the Indian Act election rules.
• Allows Semiahmoo to be added to the schedule of the First Nations Elections Act (a separate order does that) so the community’s Chief and councillors are elected under that Act.
• A companion order sets the first election under the First Nations Elections Act for December 5, 2026.

Who's affected#

• Primarily the members of the Semiahmoo First Nation in British Columbia.
• The change was requested by a Semiahmoo council resolution dated December 17, 2025.
• Indigenous Services Canada and the office of the Minister of Indigenous Services (the order was signed by Mandy Gull‑Masty) are the federal parties that processed and registered the change.
• If unclear: people outside Semiahmoo are generally not affected by this order.

Why it matters#

• The move shifts Semiahmoo’s election system away from the federal Indian Act and into the more recent First Nations Elections Act, which many communities see as giving them more control over governance.
• Under the First Nations Elections Act communities typically hold general elections every four years instead of every two years, which the government says can lower election costs and help councils focus on longer-term planning.
• For Semiahmoo members, the change may affect how future elections are run, the timing of elections, and local rules about voting and election disputes.