Information on proposed changes to Band Regulations

Why We Are Voting

This vote is what we heard from you. Over the last two years, Chief and Council listened. Community engagement sessions, surveys, and conversations with Members told us clearly what needed to change. These three questions are the result, and each one is going to a vote because the decision belongs to the community, not the Council table.

Two years of listening

This did not start with a vote. It started with Members telling us what was not working:

• Our Band Regulations were hard to read and used wording and job titles that no longer exist.
• Members living away from the community could not take part in votes as easily as Members at home.
• Some Members felt Council was stretched too thin; others were concerned about what more Councillors would cost.

What you are voting on

1. Plain-language updates to the Band Regulations Fixes outdated wording, old job titles and typos, without changing how we govern ourselves.

2. A fourth Councillor, yes or no Should Council grow from three Councillors to four? Real benefits, and real costs.

3. Online voting, yes or no Should Members be able to vote securely online, as well as by mail or in person?

The three decisions

Decision 1, Regulations: Bringing the Regulations into modern times

These are housekeeping edits. They make the Regulations easier to read and bring them up to date. They do not change our rights, our elections, or how decisions get made.

For example: “Band Manager” becomes “Chief Administration Officer.” “51 of the electors” becomes “50% + 1.” Errors like “by-lays” and “Counsil” are corrected. Every single edit, and the exact section it applies to, is listed in the Table of Edits so Members can review each one before voting.

Decision 2, Council: Adding a fourth Councillor

Today Council is one Chief and three Councillors. This vote asks whether that should become one Chief and four Councillors.

The case for:

• More Members at the table, more voices and perspectives in decisions.
• Council workload spread across four people instead of three.
• Better coverage on committees, boards and community files.

Important considerations before you vote:

• Cost: about $100,000 per year. That figure is all-in: honorarium, benefits, travel, training and support costs.
• Office space: we do not have room. A fourth Councillor means adding additional space, which is a further cost on top of the $100,000 per year.

Council is not recommending a yes or a no on this question. The benefits are real and so are the costs. Members decide.

Decision 3, Voting: Enabling online voting

This vote asks whether Members should be able to vote through a secure online system, in addition to voting by mail or in person.

• Members living away could vote as easily as Members at home.
• Mail-in and in-person voting stay. Online voting is an added option, not a replacement.
• The Regulations add protections: a secure website, verification of every submission by the Electoral Officer, and the same secrecy rules that apply in the polling place.

If Members vote no, voting stays by mail and in person only.

Your vote decides

Members can review the full documents before voting: