Penelakut Added to First Nations Elections Act

Summary#

This order adds the Penelakut First Nation to the list of bands covered by the First Nations Elections Act. It sets the band's first council election under that Act for February 19, 2020, and the order was registered on December 2, 2019.

What it does#

• Adds Penelakut First Nation as entry 68 in the Schedule to the First Nations Elections Act.
• Fixes the date of the band's first council election under the Act as February 19, 2020.
• The order was signed by Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, on November 29, 2019, and it came into force on its registration day (December 2, 2019).

Who's affected#

• Members of the Penelakut First Nation — they will vote in their next council election under the rules of the First Nations Elections Act.
• People planning to run for council in Penelakut — the election date is set and the federal election rules will apply.
• Election administrators and Indigenous Services officials who support the election process.

Why it matters#

• Being added to the schedule means the federal First Nations Elections Act will govern how Penelakut chooses its council for that election.
• That changes the legal framework for nominations, voting and how the council is formed for this band.
• For community members, it sets a clear election date (February 19, 2020) so residents and candidates can prepare.