Latest news with #MohawkCouncil
CBC
05-08-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke mulls applying road tolls in response to federal cuts
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke says it will probably impose tolls on the roads crossing its territory in response to looming federal budget cuts. Grand Chief Cody Diabo told reporters on Tuesday the tolls could help offset the impact of cuts by Indigenous Services Canada on the community south of Montreal. He says his council is looking at implementing tolls on major highways where he says approximately 120,000 vehicles pass through daily. Federal ministers have been asked to carve out savings of 7.5 per cent next spring, with cuts expected to rise to 15 per cent in 2028-29. Diabo says the news of the cuts comes in the wake of Indigenous opposition to Bill C-5, which gives Ottawa the power to fast-track projects it considers to be in the national interest. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke is calling on the Liberal government to reverse the budget cuts, which it says could jeopardize programs in health care, education and infrastructure, among others.
CTV News
05-08-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake considering road tolls in response to federal cuts
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) grand chief Cody Diabo speaks during a news conference regarding Bill C-5 and federal budget cuts in Kahnawake, Que., Tuesday, August 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes KAHNAWAKE — The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake says it will probably impose tolls on the roads crossing its territory in response to looming federal budget cuts. Grand Chief Cody Diabo told reporters the tolls could help offset the impact of cuts by Indigenous Services Canada on the Mohawk community south of Montreal. He says his council is looking at implementing tolls on major highways where he says approximately 120,000 vehicles pass through daily. Federal ministers have been asked to carve out savings of 7.5 per cent next spring, with cuts expected to rise to 15 per cent in 2028-29. Diabo says the news of the cuts comes in the wake of Indigenous opposition to Bill C-5, which gives Ottawa the power to fast-track projects it considers to be in the national interest. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is calling on the Liberal government to reverse the budget cuts, which it says could jeopardize programs in health care, education and infrastructure, among others. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake considering road tolls in response to federal cuts
KAHNAWAKE — The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake says it will probably impose tolls on the roads crossing its territory in response to looming federal budget cuts. Grand Chief Cody Diabo told reporters the tolls could help offset the impact of cuts by Indigenous Services Canada on the Mohawk community south of Montreal. He says his council is looking at implementing tolls on major highways where he says approximately 120,000 vehicles pass through daily. Federal ministers have been asked to carve out savings of 7.5 per cent next spring, with cuts expected to rise to 15 per cent in 2028-29. Diabo says the news of the cuts comes in the wake of Indigenous opposition to Bill C-5, which gives Ottawa the power to fast-track projects it considers to be in the national interest. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is calling on the Liberal government to reverse the budget cuts, which it says could jeopardize programs in health care, education and infrastructure, among others. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025. Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election in Kanehsatà:ke cancelled at last minute
A general election scheduled for Saturday in the Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) community of Kanehsatà:ke was cancelled at the last minute Friday evening, with the chief electoral officer denouncing "numerous flaws" in the existing electoral code. In a statement shared on the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake's Facebook page, Chief Electoral Officer Graeme Drew outlined his decision. "Due to numerous flaws in the Custom Electoral Code resulting in an inevitably flawed election process, I met with the incumbent Council and informed them earlier today of my decision to stop this election," wrote Drew. He noted a lack of provisions in the code "for ensuring that electors are duly informed throughout the election process." The chief electoral officer also stated that timelines were "unworkable" and didn't allow for the proper screening of candidates and, because of that, the names of several ineligible nominees appeared on the ballots. Drew further expressed concern over the power given to appeal board members to "vote over" all other electors when determining who will be grand chief and chief in the case of a tie, saying the method was "unacceptable." Six chief positions and one grand chief position were set to be determined in the general election. WATCH l Political infighting in Kanehsatà:ke leads to frustration: Saturday's election was deemed crucial for the community, located northwest of Montreal, and seen as a way to resolve a months-long political impasse stemming from a leadership crisis within the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake. In March, the band council's ethics commission removed Victor Bonspille from his position as grand chief by declaring his seat vacant. Bonspille, however, refused to recognize the decision and continued to attend ceremonies as grand chief. He was hoping to be re-elected as grand chief on Saturday, with council chiefs Brant Etienne and Serge Otsi Simon, also a former grand chief, vying for the position as well. Drew said he is recommending the council reconvene with the goal of amending the electoral code, after which an election could be held. Gleaning from past experiences, he said the process of ratifying an amended electoral code, followed by a candidate nomination period and campaigning means the community might see an election in about six months. CBC News reached out to both the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake and the minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit for comment but had yet to hear back.
CBC
02-08-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Election in Kanehsatà:ke cancelled at last minute
A general election scheduled for Saturday in the Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) community of Kanehsatà:ke was cancelled at the last minute Friday evening, with the chief electoral officer denouncing "numerous flaws" in the existing electoral code. In a statement shared on the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake's Facebook page, Chief Electoral Officer Graeme Drew outlined his decision. "Due to numerous flaws in the Custom Electoral Code resulting in an inevitably flawed election process, I met with the incumbent Council and informed them earlier today of my decision to stop this election," wrote Drew. He noted a lack of provisions in the code "for ensuring that electors are duly informed throughout the election process." The chief electoral officer also stated that timelines were "unworkable" and didn't allow for the proper screening of candidates and, because of that, the names of several ineligible nominees appeared on the ballots. Drew further expressed concern over the power given to appeal board members to "vote over" all other electors when determining who will be grand chief and chief in the case of a tie, saying the method was "unacceptable." Six chief positions and one grand chief position were set to be determined in the general election. WATCH l Political infighting in Kanehsatà:ke leads to frustration: Saturday's election was deemed crucial for the community, located northwest of Montreal, and seen as a way to resolve a months-long political impasse stemming from a leadership crisis within the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake. In March, the band council's ethics commission removed Victor Bonspille from his position as grand chief by declaring his seat vacant. Bonspille, however, refused to recognize the decision and continued to attend ceremonies as grand chief. He was hoping to be re-elected as grand chief on Saturday, with council chiefs Brant Etienne and Serge Otsi Simon, also a former grand chief, vying for the position as well. Gleaning from past experiences, he said the process of ratifying an amended electoral code, followed by a candidate nomination period and campaigning means the community might see an election in about six months. CBC News reached out to both the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake and the minister responsible for relations with First Nations and Inuit for comment but had yet to hear back.
