Changes to Fort William First Nation’s election process could be coming in time for voters to head to the polls next year.
Chief Peter Collins said the band council is looking at developing their own electoral policies under the First Nation Elections Act, which includes allowing the chief and council to serve four-year terms. The community’s elections are currently governed by the Indian Act, which only allows for two-year terms.
But Collins would rather Fort William align their election schedule with the Chiefs of Ontario and Assembly of First Nations, which vote every three years.
“I’m hoping if things can transpire quickly enough over the next couple of months that we can have it in place before the next election,” Collins said on Monday.
The council would be looking for community input before enacting any electoral changes, Collins added.
Increasing to three-year terms for the current two-year cycle would allow for more stability and continuity, plus give council more time to follow through on their campaign platforms.
“Usually the first year of your term is getting everything in order and trying to make your plans while the second year is trying to enact those plans but in the second year you’re also going into election mode,” Collins said.
“So that (extra) year would give you time to get things done and follow them through in the third year to get into election mode.”
Collins and the band council were elected in 2015. Any changes to the electoral procedure would not affect the date of the next election, which will be held in 2017.
