"Council adopts elected guidelines"

SIX NATIONS - Sitting councillors and council hopefuls must submit to - and pass - a police check before their nominations as candidates will be accepted.

That was decided in a special full session of band council last Wednesday evening which started at 6:00 PM.

The draft guidelines offered up for public input at sparsely attended public meetings called for a mandatory CPIC (Canadian Police Information Centre) background check for all potential candidates. The draft document also called for the rejection of any candidate with a criminal conviction in the U.S. or Canada 5 years prior to election day.

Council debated that provision and eventually decided to change the limit to 3 years. That amendment passed by a 6-4 vote.

Candidates, for the first time ever, will be required to provide a biographical description of themselves when they are nominated. Council employees who are elected to council must resign on the first work day after the election.

The amended guidelines were voted into force by a 9-1 vote. Councillor Dave Johns was opposed. Councillors Roger Jonathan and Deborah Styres were absent.

Nominations for this year's election will close September 23rd. The advance poll will be on October 14th.

Election day is October 21st. The 50th elected council will take office on November 20th.