AKWESASNE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION LAW ENACTMENT VOTE RESCHEDULED
Special General Meeting vote rescheduled for August 24, 2019
TERRITORY OF AKWESASNE – The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne hereby gives notice that the proposed draft Akwesasne Financial Administration Law has been accepted in principle for enactment following the Akwesasne Legislative Enactment Regulation. Council has determined that enactment will be through a secret ballot vote at a Special General Meeting, which has been rescheduled for:
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Kanonhkwat’sheri:io Atrium (Kana:takon)
Special General Meeting start time 10:00 a.m.
Voting by secret ballot is open to Eligible Voters as determined by the Akwesasne Election Law, which includes a person at the time of voting who:
(a) has attained eighteen years of age
(b) is a resident in a district;
(c) is a member of the Mohawks of Akwesasne;
(d)is Onkwehonwe.
Contact the Chief Electoral Officer Leona Benedict to verify that you are on the voters list at 613-575-2250 ext. 2406 before the Special General Meeting.
Information Meetings regarding the draft Akwesasne Financial Administration Law will be held on the following dates, times and locations:
• District of Kawehno:ke — Saturday, August 17, 2019 10:00am-12:00pm at Kawehno:ke Recreation Center
• District of Kana:takon — Wednesday, August 21, 2019 6:00pm-8:00pm at Kana:takon Recreation Center
• District of Tsi Snaihne — Thursday, August 22, 2019 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Tsi Snaihne Recreation Center
Due to a lack of Eligible Voters present at the first Special General Meeting scheduled for this vote, the meeting could not be called to order. Therefore, the vote asking the community if they approve the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law was not held. The proposed Financial Administration Law supports sound financial administration practices by modernizing the rules dealing with financial management. Providing better rules for financial accountability will increase transparency and accountability to the Akwesasne community.
The proposed draft law completed Phase III of the Akwesasne Legislative Enactment Regulation – Community Consultation in April 2019. Community comments received were compiled into a report for review and recommendation by the Akwesasne Legislative Commission, followed by a second legal review and input from the Working Task Group.
To start the meeting at 10:00am a quorum of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (e.g. minimum of 7 Council members) and an addition of at least twenty-five (25) Eligible Voters are needed to be present. If there is not twenty-five (25) Eligible Voters present in addition to Council quorum within fifteen (15) minutes of the scheduled start time, the meeting cannot be called to order. If at this second Special General Meeting the attendance threshold is still not met, the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law will be considered rejected.
If by 10:15am on Saturday, August 24, 2019 there is at least twenty-five (25) Eligible Voters present in addition to Council quorum, the meeting will begin. A summary of the Akwesasne Financial Administration Law will be read, followed by a motion from Council calling for the vote to take place. The secret ballot vote will be conducted by Chief Electoral Officer Leona Benedict and her Deputy Electoral Officers.
Eligible Voters interested in voting may enter the meeting any time after the start of the meeting to vote. Council quorum must be maintained for the duration of the meeting. At 12:00pm, the voting period will end and a second motion will be passed closing the voting process after all Eligible Voters in the room have voted.
A full copy of the law, and a Community Notice was mailed to every household in the Districts in June 2019. If you did not receive a copy in your mailbox, or are interested in picking up the information package directly, you can request these documents at the Akwesasne Justice Department 613-575-2250 ext. 2400. You can also access these documents online at http://www.akwesasne.ca/justice/legislative-development/akwesasne-financial-administration-law/
For more information on the proposed Akwesasne Financial Administration Law, please contact:
Kyrie Ransom, Justice Coordinator
Akwesasne Justice Department
613-575-2250 ext. 2403
15 Akwesasne Street
Akwesasne, Quebec H0M 1A0