First Nations Election Cancellation and Postponement Regulations (Prevention of Diseases)

Whereas the Governor in Council is of the opinion that there is an outbreak of a communicable disease, namely coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the introduction or spread of COVID-19 poses an imminent and severe risk to public health in Canada; Whereas some First Nations had begun or were about to begin the process of electing their chief and councillors;Whereas some First Nations have cancelled or postponed elections to avoid the introduction or spread of COVID-19 and some do not or will not have a council in place at the end of the tenure of the chief and councillors;And whereas it is necessary to ensure continuance of governance of First Nations during the outbreak and spread of COVID-19; This regulation establishes that if the extension is necessary to prevent, mitigate or control the spread of diseases on the reserve, the council of a First Nation whose chief and councillors are elected under that Act may, within 90 days before the day on which a tenure of office of the chief and councillors ends, extend that tenure and must either cancel or postpone the election.