BEAUSOLEIL FIRST NATION ELECTOR PETITION FOR REMOVAL FROM ELECTED OFFICE
Chief Joanne Sandy — Beausoleil First Nation
Purpose of this Petition
This petition asks for the removal of Chief Joanne Sandy from elected office as Chief of Beausoleil First Nation through the applicable lawful process. The petition is based on concerns regarding governance, administration, accountability, privacy and confidentiality, and alleged interference with the delivery and administration of community services.
The petition relies on the petition/removal framework referred to in the First Nations Elections Act and on the duties, standards of conduct, complaint procedures and potential penalties contained in the Beausoleil First Nation Council Governance Manual. The petition also identifies relevant complaints and proceedings involving independent outside institutions as part of the documented circumstances relied upon by the petition organizer.
By signing, an elector is asking that the petition be formally received, the signatures and elector eligibility be verified, and the request for removal be determined through the lawful process applicable to Beausoleil First Nation.
LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE BASIS
First Nations Elections Act
Section 28(2)(e) of the First Nations Elections Act provides that a Chief or Councillor ceases to hold office if they are removed from office by means of a petition in accordance with the regulations.
Section 36 prohibits offering or accepting money, goods, employment or other valuable consideration in exchange for obtaining a signature on a removal petition.
Section 41(g) authorizes regulations respecting the removal of a Chief or Councillor by petition, including the percentage of electors required to sign and the period for filing a petition.
Beausoleil First Nation Council Governance Manual
The petition also relies upon provisions of the BFN Council Governance Manual concerning the conduct and accountability of elected Council, including provisions addressing adherence to the Governance Manual, relations with administration and staff, confidentiality and discretion, complaints against Council members, and penalties for a breach.
Section 9.7 provides for penalties where a member of Council is found in breach of the Governance Manual and identifies removal from elected office among the possible penalties.
CONCERNS RELIED UPON
The petition organizer relies upon documented concerns and allegations relating to the following matters:
• alleged interference with the administration or delivery of community programs, facilities and services;
• concerns regarding the appropriate separation between elected leadership and the day-to-day responsibilities of administration and staff;
• alleged disclosure, use or handling of personal or confidential information concerning First Nation members;
• concerns regarding the handling and effectiveness of internal complaints and accountability processes;
• concerns regarding access to community services, facilities and administrative processes;
• concerns regarding transparency, communication and opportunities for members to raise questions or concerns with elected leadership; and
• alleged conduct inconsistent with provisions of the Beausoleil First Nation Council Governance Manual concerning conduct, administration, confidentiality, complaints and accountability.
Some of the matters relied upon have also resulted in complaints, proceedings, requests for investigation, correspondence or other documentary records involving outside institutions or authorities. Those records may form part of the supporting documentation accompanying the petition.
The Governance Manual expressly addresses confidentiality and disclosure of information concerning First Nation members in §9.2.
PETITION REQUEST
We, the undersigned Eligible Electors of Beausoleil First Nation, petition for the removal of Chief Joanne Sandy from elected office.
By signing this petition, each signatory requests that:
• the petition be formally received and preserved;
• the eligibility of each signatory and the validity of the signatures be verified;
• duplicate or otherwise ineligible submissions be excluded;
• the applicable number or percentage of Eligible Electors required for the petition be formally determined;
• the petition and the request for removal be considered and determined under the laws and governance instruments applicable to Beausoleil First Nation; and
• a written decision identifying the process followed, the verified number of eligible signatures, the applicable threshold, and the determination of the petition be provided.
SIGNATORY DECLARATION
By signing below, I declare that I am an Eligible Elector of Beausoleil First Nation for purposes of this petition. I have read the petition above and voluntarily support its request for the removal of Chief Joanne Sandy from elected office.
I further declare that I have not received or been promised money, goods, employment or any other valuable consideration in exchange for my signature.
PRIVACY NOTICE
This form collects your name, email address, declarations and electronic signature for petition administration, eligibility verification, duplicate checking, submission and any related legal process. Please do not provide your Status/Band number, Status Card image, date of birth or home address. Information submitted may need to be provided to the authority receiving the petition or used in a related legal proceeding.