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An Act to amend the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act (S.C. 2009, c. 12)

Assented to 2009-06-11

An Act to amend the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act

S.C. 2009, c. 12

Assented to 2009-06-11

An Act to amend the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act

SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act, in respect of Cree bands and Category IA land,

  • (a) to provide the Cree Regional Authority with additional responsibilities and powers, including by-law making powers; and

  • (b) to recognize the Crees of Oujé-Bougoumou as a separate band and a local government under that Act.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1984, c. 18CREE-NASKAPI (OF QUEBEC) ACT

  •  (1) The definitions “band” and “Cree band” in subsection 2(1) of the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act are replaced by the following:

    “band”

    « bande »

    “band” means a band incorporated by section 12 or 14 or the Oujé-Bougoumou Band referred to in section 12.1;

    “Cree band”

    « bande crie »

    “Cree band” means a band incorporated by section 12 or the Oujé-Bougoumou Band referred to in section 12.1;

  • (2) Subsection 2(1) of the Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

    “Oujé-Bougoumou Band Complementary Agreement”

    « convention complémentaire de la Bande de Oujé-Bougoumou »

    “Oujé-Bougoumou Band Complementary Agreement” means the agreement made in accordance with the applicable amending provisions of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, which agreement provides for, among other things, the incorporation under this Act of the collectivity known as the Crees of Oujé-Bougoumou, to act as a local government;

 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 9:

CREE REGIONAL AUTHORITY BY-LAWS AND RESOLUTIONS

Marginal note:Territorial limits of by-laws

9.1 A by-law of the Cree Regional Authority made under this Act may have application within the following territorial limits:

  • (a) Category IA land; and

  • (b) Category III land situated within the perimeter of Category IA land and the ownership of which was ceded by letters patent or by any other method before November 11, 1975.

Marginal note:By-law may prohibit activities

9.2 A by-law of the Cree Regional Authority made under this Act may prohibit an activity.

Marginal note:Statutory Instruments Act not to apply

9.3 The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply to a by-law or resolution of the Cree Regional Authority made or adopted under this Act.

 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 12:

Marginal note:Oujé-Bougoumou Band

12.1 Pursuant to subparagraph 9.0.3A of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the collectivity known as the Crees of Oujé-Bougoumou is constituted as a corporation, and that corporation may be legally designated by its English name, Oujé-Bougoumou Band, its French name, Bande de Oujé-Bougoumou, or its Cree name, Oujé-Bougoumou Eenuch, subject to section 16.

 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 13:

Marginal note:Vesting of assets, etc., of collectivity in Oujé-Bougoumou Band
  • 13.1 (1) On the coming into force of this section, the assets, obligations and liabilities of the collectivity known as the Crees of Oujé-Bougoumou shall vest in the Oujé-Bougoumou Band.

  • Marginal note:Oujé-Bougoumou Eenuch Association

    (2) On the coming into force of this section, the Oujé-Bougoumou Eenuch Association, a corporation established under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act, chapter C-32 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, ceases to exist, and all its rights, titles, interests, assets, obligations and liabilities shall vest in the Oujé-Bougoumou Band.

 Section 18 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Provision for persons who are not Cree beneficiaries

18. A person, not being a Cree beneficiary, who immediately before July 3, 1984 was a member of one of the Indian Act Cree bands mentioned in subsection 12(1), or who immediately before the coming into force of section 12.1 was an Indian, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Indian Act, who belonged to the collectivity known as the Crees of Oujé-Bougoumou,

  • (a) is deemed to be a member of that band’s successor band listed in subsection 12(2), or the Oujé-Bougoumou Band, as the case may be, for the purposes of paragraph 21(f), section 45, subsection 55(1), paragraph 62.01(d), subsection 62.1(1), paragraphs 90(2)(a) and (b) and subsections 94(3) and (4) and 103(1);

  • (b) is, if 18 years of age or over and not declared mentally incompetent under the laws of the Province, deemed to be an elector of the successor band or of the Oujé-Bougoumou Band, as the case may be, for the purposes of section 63, subparagraph 66(1)(a)(i), sections 68 and 75 and subsection 97(2), but is not eligible to be elected chief of that band; and

  • (c) is, if 18 years of age or over and not declared mentally incompetent under the laws of the Province, deemed to be an elector of the successor band or of the Oujé-Bougoumou Band, as the case may be, for the purposes of section 81, except where the matter submitted to a vote is a matter referred to in Part VI, VII, VIII or IX.

 Subsection 19(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Special provision for Inuit of Fort George
  • 19. (1) An Inuk of Fort George is deemed to be a member of the Chisasibi Band for the purposes of paragraph 21(f), section 45, subsection 55(1), paragraph 62.01(d), subsection 62.1(1), paragraphs 90(2)(a) and (b) and subsections 94(3) and (4) and 103(1), and is deemed to be a resident of the Category IA land of the Chisasibi Band for the purpose of paragraph 22(2)(b).

 Section 59 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Board of directors of the Oujé-Bougoumou Eenuch Association

58.1 Subject to section 59, the board of directors of the Oujé-Bougoumou Eenuch Association that is in office immediately before the coming into force of this section becomes the council of the Oujé-Bougoumou Band on that coming into force, and for that purpose the chairperson of that Association holds the office of chief of that band. The board of directors, including the chairperson, continues in office as such until the expiry of their term of office.

Marginal note:Provisions of this Act to apply

59. For the transitional periods described in sections 58 and 58.1, the council has the powers and duties of a band council elected under this Act, and the provisions of this Act and the regulations apply, with any modifications that the circumstances require, to that council as if it had been elected under this Act.

 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 60:

Marginal note:Continuation in force of by-laws of the Oujé-Bougoumou Eenuch Association

60.1 The by-laws of the Oujé-Bougoumou Eenuch Association that are in force immediately before the coming into force of this section remain in force on the territory, described in section 6, of the Oujé-Bougoumou Band for a period of one year commencing on that coming into force, unless repealed during that period pursuant to this Act.

 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 62:

PART I.1CREE REGIONAL AUTHORITY

Marginal note:Objects

62.01 The objects of the Cree Regional Authority are

  • (a) to act as a regional government authority on Category IA land;

  • (b) to regulate essential sanitation services — including water and sewer services, drainage and solid waste management — and housing situated on Category IA land and to regulate buildings used for the purposes of regional governance that are situated on those lands;

  • (c) to use, manage and administer moneys and other assets;

  • (d) to promote the general welfare of the members of the Cree bands; and

  • (e) to promote and preserve the culture, values and traditions of the members of the Cree bands.

Marginal note:Agreements between the Cree Regional Authority and the Government of Canada

62.02 For greater certainty, the Cree Regional Authority may assume any federal responsibilities agreed on by that Authority and the Government of Canada that are set out in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement or any other agreement or in any federal Act or that are in relation to any program of the Government of Canada.

Marginal note:By-laws respecting regional government
  • 62.03 (1) The Council of the Cree Regional Authority may make by-laws respecting

    • (a) the regulation — for the protection of public health and safety — of buildings used for housing or for regional governance, including their construction, maintenance, repair and demolition;

    • (b) essential sanitation services — including water and sewer services, drainage and solid waste management — and health and hygiene in relation to those services and housing;

    • (c) the establishment, maintenance and operation of fire departments; and

    • (d) the protection of the environment, including natural resources, and the prevention of pollution.

  • Marginal note:Minimum standards

    (2) Standards established in the by-laws in respect of a matter referred to in subsection (1) must be at least equivalent in their effect to any standards established by federal or provincial laws of general application in respect of the matter.

Marginal note:Adoption of by-laws by majority

62.04 A by-law of the Cree Regional Authority shall be made by means of the adoption, at a public meeting convened in accordance with An Act respecting the Cree Regional Authority, R.S.Q. c. A-6.1, as amended from time to time, of a resolution supported by a majority of all of the members of the Council of that Authority.

Marginal note:Inconsistency with Cree band by-laws
  • 62.05 (1) In the event of an inconsistency or conflict between a by-law of the Cree Regional Authority and a by-law of a Cree band, the by-law of the Cree Regional Authority prevails to the extent of the inconsistency or conflict.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (2) Despite subsection (1), if the standards established in a by-law of a Cree band in respect of a matter are more stringent in their effect than the standards established in a by-law of the Cree Regional Authority, the provisions of the by-law of the Cree band that relate to those standards prevail to the extent that they are inconsistent with or conflict with the provisions of the by-law of the Cree Regional Authority that relate to those standards.

Marginal note:Exception

62.06 The powers conferred on the Cree Regional Authority under this Act do not affect

  • (a) any right, privilege or benefit set out in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement that is conferred on persons who are enrolled or entitled to be enrolled as Inuit beneficiaries under section 3A of that Agreement;

  • (b) any right, privilege or benefit set out in the Northeastern Quebec Agreement that is conferred on the Naskapi band or Naskapi beneficiaries;

  • (c) any right, privilege or benefit set out in any other agreement that is conferred on persons referred to in paragraph (a) or Naskapi beneficiaries, if the agreement is one entered into between those persons or Naskapi beneficiaries, as the case may be — or any person who is authorized, according to the terms of the agreement, to enter into the agreement on behalf of those persons or beneficiaries — and the government of Canada or Quebec;

  • (d) any right, privilege or benefit set out in this Act that is conferred on the Inuit of Fort George, the Naskapi band or Naskapi beneficiaries; or

  • (e) any right, privilege or benefit conferred on persons referred to in paragraph (a), or Naskapi beneficiaries, by means of an undertaking given by the government of Canada or Quebec.

Marginal note:Posting of by-laws
  • 62.07 (1) Within one week after a by-law has been made by the Council of the Cree Regional Authority, the secretary of that Authority shall ensure that a copy of the by-law is posted on the Authority’s website and at a public place designated by the Authority on the Category IA land of each Cree band.

  • Marginal note:Coming into force of by-laws

    (2) The by-law comes into force on the day on which it is posted on the Authority’s website, whether or not it is posted within the time set out in subsection (1), or on any day, subsequent to the day on which it is posted, that may be specified in the by-law.

Marginal note:Register of by-laws
  • 62.08 (1) The secretary of the Cree Regional Authority shall maintain a register of by-laws made by the Council of that Authority under this Act in which shall be kept the original copy of those by-laws, including by-laws that have been repealed or are no longer in force.

  • Marginal note:Recording of resolutions and votes

    (2) The secretary of the Cree Regional Authority shall, in respect of every resolution to make a by-law under this Act that is adopted by the Council of that Authority, record the full text of the resolution and the result of the vote in the minutes of the meeting at which it was adopted.

  • Marginal note:By-laws to be sent to Minister

    (3) Within 30 days after the coming into force of a by-law of the Cree Regional Authority made under this Act, the secretary of that Authority shall forward a copy of the by-law to the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Non-compliance

    (4) Non-compliance with this section does not affect the validity of the by-law or resolution.

Marginal note:Obtaining copies of by-laws and resolutions

62.09 Any person is entitled to obtain a copy of a by-law or resolution of the Cree Regional Authority made or adopted under this Act on payment of any reasonable fee that is fixed by that Authority.

Marginal note:Application to quash by-law
  • 62.1 (1) Subject to section 62.2, a member of a Cree band or any other interested person may make application to the Court of Quebec or Superior Court of Quebec to have a by-law of the Cree Regional Authority made under this Act quashed, in whole or in part, for illegality or for irregularity in the manner or form of its making.

  • Marginal note:Exclusion of Federal Court’s jurisdiction

    (2) Despite the Federal Courts Act, the Federal Court does not have the jurisdiction to hear applications described in subsection (1).

Marginal note:Time limit for applying — irregularity

62.2 An application made under section 62.1 based on an irregularity in the manner or form of the making of a by-law may not be brought later than 90 days after the coming into force of the by-law.

Marginal note:Subsequent actions

62.3 If a by-law of the Cree Regional Authority made under this Act is quashed, any action for anything done under that by-law lies only against the Cree Regional Authority and not against any other person.

 

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