Government of – Request to Hold Additional Senate Election Voting – Report

Meeting Date (Report Reference Only): 2021/04/06

Meeting (Report Reference Only): Council General

Background On March 29, 2021, Administration received correspondence dated March 24, 2021 from Ms. Cathy Maniego, Executive Director of Municipal Capacity and Sustainability Branch with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, requesting that the County of be supportive of assisting the Government of Alberta with respect to the upcoming Senate Election slated to be held in conjunction with the 2021 Municipal Election on October 18, 2021. Within the correspondence, Ms. Maniego notes that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs is responsible to ensure that voting for Senators In-Waiting is conducted in all Improvement Districts, Summer Villages, Special Areas, the Alberta portion of the City of , and Reserves as the vast majority of these groups do not elections on the same date as the rest of the . However, the Government of Alberta does not have sufficient resources to directly conduct these votes and therefore, is requesting that the County of Wetaskiwin conduct the vote for these areas on their behalf, being four (4) First Nation Reserves, as in the opinion of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the County of Wetaskiwin is the nearest to these Reserves. The First Nation Reserves listed are as follows:  Ermineskin Nation Reserve #138  Reserve #138B  #139  First Nation Buck Lake Reserve #133C With respect to the four (4) First Nation Reserves mentioned, Ms. Maniego outlined that if the request is accepted, electors from the neighbouring jurisdiction would vote at County of Wetaskiwin Polling Stations for the provincial ballots only, in conjunction with the 2021 Municipal Election being undertaken by the County. In exchange for support from the County, Ms. Maniego states that “a payment will be made to your municipality to assist with any additional costs incurred.”, which will be in addition to any payments that the County is slated to receive for conducting the Senate and Referendum Question Elections for citizens of the County. No explicit details were contained in the correspondence, but clarity was provided in an election training session that the County would receive funds on a per capita basis for these other communities. The Government of Alberta requests that the County provide a response by Friday, April 9, 2021.

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Regarding the correspondence, Administration notes that through basic geographical analysis of mapping, the County of Wetaskiwin is not the municipality of closest jurisdiction to the Montana First Nation, but that Ponoka County clearly is. For the , both Ponoka County and the County of Wetaskiwin have shared boundaries with that respective First Nation. With respect to the Louis Bull Tribe and Paul Band First Nation, the County of Wetaskiwin is indeed the municipality of closest jurisdiction. Furthermore, Administration notes that no Summer Villages, the Pigeon Lake Reserve, nor the are listed in the correspondence, but Ponoka County has confirmed to Administration that they have received similar correspondence respecting the Samson Cree Nation that is also being brought forward to their Council for consideration. Regarding the aforementioned areas requiring clarity on the correspondence from the Government of Alberta, Administration has inquired with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and are awaiting a response. A copy of the full correspondence from Ms. Maniego on behalf of the Government of Alberta is provided for review by Council. Alternatives Options for Consideration by Council Include: 1. That Council direct Administration to respond to the Government of Alberta by April 9, 2021 that the County of Wetaskiwin is willing to conduct the Senate and Referendum Question Elections for electors in all four (4) of the named First Nation Reserves; 2. That Council direct Administration to respond to the Government of Alberta by April 9, 2021 that the County of Wetaskiwin is willing to conduct the Senate and Referendum Question Elections for electors in the three (3) First Nation Reserves listed where the County is actually the or a municipality of closest jurisdiction and advise the Government of Alberta to request that Ponoka County be approached to potentially facilitate the election for the Montana First Nation; or 3. That Council direct Administration to respectfully respond to the Government of Alberta by April 9, 2021 that the County of Wetaskiwin is not willing nor supportive of conducting the Senate and Referendum Question Elections for electors in all four (4) of the named First Nation Reserves. Recommended Resolution that Council provide direction with respect to the request by the Government of Alberta through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs regarding the conducting of the Senate and Referendum Question Elections for neighbouring groups.

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