MCK to ask for mandate on Wednesday to counter Canada S-2 legislation

09/23/2013

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is reminding Kahnawa’kehró:non that it is urging the community to give the Mandate on Wednesday evening to proceed with a Kahnawà:ke law to counter Canada’s Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act (S-2).

The Kahnawà:ke Legislative Coordinating Commission (KLCC) earlier accepted a request from the MCK to use the ‘Urgent Law-Making Process’ of the Community Decision Making Process, due to a deadline of June 2014 imposed by the passage of S-2. If communities do not have their own laws in place when the law comes into force, S-2 will prevail.
 
As announced recently, the MCK is proposing using draft legislation from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne as a ‘starting point’ for a Kahnawà:ke law.

“We can’t wait any longer to get started on this,” said Chief Clinton Phillips. “Either we create our own law or we will leave ourselves in the unacceptable position of having jurisdiction fall into Provincial hands. Once a mandate is given, we’ll roll up our collective sleeves and get to work.”

The Hearing will be held from 6pm to 8:30pm this Wednesday (25, Seskehkó:wa/September) at the Karonhianónhnha School gymnasium.

“While this is the type of law that won’t affect the majority of Kahnawa’kehró:non, this is a blatant example of the federal government off-loading its responsibilities to the provinces,” said Chief Phillips. “The fact that each province has its own laws will further complicate an already complex issue, and that’s something we cannot and will not accept.”