Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation election change

Summary#

This Order removes Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation from the list of bands that hold council elections under the Indian Act and allows the community to hold elections under the First Nations Elections Act instead. The change took effect when the order was registered on September 17, 2025, and the First Nations Elections Act rules set the first election date as November 26, 2025.

What it does#

• Removes Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation from the part of the Indian Act that governs band council elections.
• Confirms the community will be governed for elections by the First Nations Elections Act and its regulations.
• Fixes the community’s first election under the First Nations Elections Act for November 26, 2025.
• The order came into force on September 17, 2025 (the registration date).

Who's affected#

• Members, voters, candidates, and current leaders of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation in Nova Scotia.
• The local electoral officer and the community bodies that run elections.
• Indigenous Services Canada, which administers the federal side of the change.
• Other communities are not affected by this specific order; it applies only to Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation.

Why it matters#

• The move shifts the community from the older federal election rules under the Indian Act to the newer First Nations Elections Act, giving the community different rules for how leaders are chosen.
• Under the First Nations Elections Act, general elections are held every four years instead of every two years, which the government says reduces election costs and lets local leaders plan for longer-term projects.
• The change was requested by the community (council resolution on June 24, 2025) and followed local consultation.
• Elections under the First Nations Elections Act still allow legal challenges in court and include penalties for election offences, so contesting or enforcing election rules can involve federal or provincial courts.