Kanesatake Interim Land Base Governance Act (S.C. 2001, c. 8)

Marginal note:Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Kanesatake Interim Land Base Governance Act.

Marginal note:Definitions

• 2 (1) The definitions in this subsection apply in this Act.

  Agreement

  Agreement means the “Agreement with respect to Kanesatake Governance of the Interim Land Base” between the Mohawks of Kanesatake and Her Majesty in right of Canada, signed on December 21, 2000 and tabled in Parliament on March 27, 2001. (accord territorial)

  Council

  Council means the council of the band, known as the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake. (conseil)

  Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base

  Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base means the lands set out in the schedule to this Act. (territoire provisoire de Kanesatake)

  Kanesatake Mohawk law

  Kanesatake Mohawk law means a law enacted in accordance with the provisions of this Act. (lois des Mohawks de Kanesatake)

  Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands

  Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands means the lands in the Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base that are located in the sectors set out in Schedule B to the Agreement, in the area commonly known as the “Village of Oka”. (terres mohawks avoisinantes)

  Mohawks of Kanesatake

  Mohawks of Kanesatake means the band known as the Mohawks of Kanesatake. (Mohawks de Kanesatake)

• Marginal note:Reference to Municipality

  (2) A reference in this Act to the Municipality of Oka includes any successor municipality.

Marginal note:Purpose

• 3 (1) The purpose of this Act is to implement the Agreement and, in doing so,

  • (a) to ensure that certain lands in the Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base constitute lands reserved for the Indians within the meaning of class 24 of section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867 but not a reserve within the meaning of the Indian Act;

  • (b) to provide a framework for the exercise of jurisdiction by the Mohawks of Kanesatake over the use and development of the lands in the Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base; and

  • (c) to establish principles to govern the harmonious use and development of Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands and certain lands in the Municipality of Oka.

• Marginal note:Aboriginal and treaty rights

  (2) This Act does not address any aboriginal or treaty rights of the Mohawks of Kanesatake. Nothing in this Act is intended either to prejudice such rights or to represent a recognition of such rights by Her Majesty in right of Canada.

• Marginal note:Status of and interests in lands

  Footnote ^*(3) This Act does not

  • (a) address the constitutional status of any lands before this Act comes into effect; or

  • (b) alter existing jurisdiction over the creation or transfer of rights or interests in relation to lands in the Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base.

    • Return to footnote ^*[Note: Act in force on assent June 14, 2001.]

Marginal note:Lands reserved

4 The lands in the Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base, other than the lands known as Doncaster Reserve No. 17, are set aside for the use and benefit of the Mohawks of Kanesatake as lands reserved for the Indians within the meaning of class 24 of section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867 but not as a reserve within the meaning of the Indian Act.

Marginal note:Legal status and capacity

5 The Mohawks of Kanesatake have the capacity of a natural person and, in particular, may

• (a) acquire and hold property;

• (b) enter into contracts or agreements;

• (c) borrow money;

• (d) expend and invest money;

• (e) be a party to legal proceedings; and

• (f) do any other thing that is conducive to the exercise of the rights, powers and privileges associated with that capacity.

Marginal note:Exercise of jurisdiction and powers

6 The Mohawks of Kanesatake shall act through the Council in exercising the jurisdiction and powers under this Act.

Marginal note:Jurisdiction

• 7 (1) The Mohawks of Kanesatake have jurisdiction to make laws in relation to the use and development of the lands in the Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base, including in relation to

  • (a) the health and quality of life of residents;

  • (b) the protection and management of wildlife and fish;

  • (c) the observance of law and order and the prevention of disorderly conduct and nuisances;

  • (d) the prevention of trespass, including entry onto, or occupation of, the lands without lawful authority;

  • (e) residency;

  • (f) fire safety and fire protection services;

  • (g) the construction, maintenance, management and use of local works, including water supplies;

  • (h) the construction or alteration of buildings, including inspection in connection with the construction or alteration;

  • (i) zoning;

  • (j) waste management and public sanitation; and

  • (k) traffic regulation.

• Marginal note:Offences

  (2) This jurisdiction includes the power to create offences punishable on summary conviction and to provide for the following sanctions for those offences, namely, orders, fines, imprisonment and sanctions that are consistent with restorative justice objectives. However, a fine or period of imprisonment shall not exceed the limits established under subsection 787(1) of the Criminal Code.

• Marginal note:Exclusion

  (3) For greater certainty, this jurisdiction does not include jurisdiction in relation to the subject-matters referred to in class 27 of section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867 or in relation to labour relations or working conditions.

• Marginal note:Statutory Instruments Act

  (4) The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply to Kanesatake Mohawk laws.

Marginal note:Restriction — Doncaster Reserve No. 17

• 8 (1) Jurisdiction shall not be exercised under section 7 with respect to the lands known as Doncaster Reserve No. 17 except in accordance with an agreement between the Mohawks of Kanesatake and Kahnawake, and exercise of the jurisdiction with respect to those lands shall be subject to Her Majesty in right of Canada agreeing to take any measures that may be necessary to implement that agreement.

• Marginal note:Application of the Indian Act

  (2) To the extent that a Kanesatake Mohawk law enacted in accordance with subsection (1) makes provision for any matter for which provision is made by the Indian Act, the Indian Act does not apply to the Mohawks of Kanesatake or to members of the Mohawks of Kanesatake.

Marginal note:Restriction — land governance code

• 9 (1) Before jurisdiction under section 7 is exercised, the Mohawks of Kanesatake shall adopt a land governance code that sets out the principles, processes and rules to which the exercise of jurisdiction is subject.

• Marginal note:Mandatory elements of the code

  (2) The code shall

  • (a) establish processes for the preparation, enactment and publication of Kanesatake Mohawk laws;

  • (b) establish processes for the assessment and approval of proposed uses and development of lands in the Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base;

  • (c) establish principles and rules, including conflict of interest rules, to ensure the accountability of the Council to members of the Mohawks of Kanesatake;

  • (d) provide for rights of appeal and redress in relation to decisions and other measures taken by the Council under the authority of Kanesatake Mohawk laws; and

  • (e) include a procedure to amend the code.

• Marginal note:Statutory Instruments Act

  (3) The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply to the land governance code.

Marginal note:Land use plan

10 The Mohawks of Kanesatake shall adopt a plan that establishes general policies governing land use for the Kanesatake Mohawk interim land base before any process preliminary to the granting of an authorization is undertaken in relation to the proposed use of any of the lands in the land base for

• (a) a commercial or industrial activity that results in or may result in an adverse impact on the environment;

• (b) the storage or transportation of any dangerous materials; or

• (c) waste disposal.

Marginal note:Environmental protection

• 11 (1) If federal laws contain no standards of environmental protection with respect to a matter, a Kanesatake Mohawk law, or an action or measure taken by the Council, with respect to that matter shall be consistent with the standards of environmental protection that apply generally in the province with respect to the matter.

• Marginal note:Exclusion

  (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), environmental protection does not include environmental assessment.

• Marginal note:Stricter standards

  (3) Nothing in subsection (1) precludes the Mohawks of Kanesatake or the Council from setting or applying standards that are stricter than the provincial standards.

Marginal note:Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands

12 Until the Mohawks of Kanesatake make a Kanesatake Mohawk law that allows a land use on, or that establishes a land use standard that applies to, one or more of the lots or land sites that constitute Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands, no person shall alter an existing land use, building or structure on that lot or land site or those lots or land sites unless the alteration complies with the land uses or the land use standards set out in Schedule B to the Agreement for the applicable sector.

Marginal note:Harmonization arrangement — Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands

• 13 (1) Before the Mohawks of Kanesatake make any Kanesatake Mohawk law that allows a land use, or establishes a land use standard, that is significantly different from the uses or standards set out in Schedule B to the Agreement for the applicable sector, they shall enter into a harmonization arrangement with the Municipality of Oka.

• Marginal note:Content of harmonization arrangement

  (2) The harmonization arrangement

  • (a) shall establish the reciprocal obligations of the parties to harmonize, with respect to land use or land use standards, the Kanesatake Mohawk laws that apply to Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands and the municipal by-laws that apply to the properties in the Municipality of Oka that adjoin Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands;

  • (b) shall establish a dispute resolution process, which may include arbitration, to resolve any disagreement between the parties in relation to the arrangement; and

  • (c) may determine criteria for compatibility between those Kanesatake Mohawk laws and municipal by-laws.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (3) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to any of the sectors in Schedule B to the Agreement if the Municipality of Oka, before entering into a harmonization arrangement, amends a municipal by-law to allow a land use or to establish a land use standard in any sector that is significantly different from the uses or standards set out in that Schedule for that sector, without being legally obliged by a provincial law to amend the by-law for that purpose.

• Marginal note:Enactment despite harmonization arrangement

  (4) The Mohawks of Kanesatake may, in relation to any of the sectors in Schedule B to the Agreement, make Kanesatake Mohawk laws despite the terms of the harmonization arrangement if, without the agreement of the Mohawks of Kanesatake, the Municipality of Oka

  • (a) in breach of its obligations under the arrangement, amends or repeals a municipal by-law with respect to land use or land use standards without being legally obliged by a provincial law to amend or repeal the by-law; or

  • (b) condones any use, activity or construction on a property in the Municipality of Oka that contravenes a municipal by-law with respect to land use or land use standards and that significantly prejudices any right or interest of an occupant of Kanesatake Mohawk neighbouring lands.