Update on Election, Tobacco, and Family Homes Laws

08/20/2014

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) would like to update the community on several laws that are either being proposed or amended using the Community Decision Making Process (CDMP).

First, in regard to the proposed amendments to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Election Law, a survey will be conducted today and Friday (August 20 and 22) at the Services Complex to gather additional feedback regarding the proposal to reduce the number of Council Chiefs from 12 to either nine or ten. The issue will be re-tabled at the next hearing using the Community Decision Making Process. It is expected that a September 2014 date will be announced shortly.

Second, community feedback is still being accepted for the preliminary draft law to regulate the tobacco industry. The feedback period has been extended to Friday, August 29, 2014. The draft is available at the Kahnawà:ke Legislative Coordinating Commission website (see below). Hard copies are available at the MCK main reception and at Rainbow Tobacco.

Finally, the date of Thursday, September 4th, 2014 has been set for the next hearing for the proposed Kahnawà:ke Family Homes Law. The draft is still in the 30-day community feedback period. Please note that this law is using the CDMP Urgent Process in order to meet the deadline for Kahnawà:ke to enact the legislation, which is a response to Canada’s S-2 ‘Matrimonial Real Interest’ law that takes effect on First Nations territories this December unless the First Nations have their own corresponding law in place.

The above are available for viewing and feedback at www.kahnawakemakingdecisions.com.