MNA: Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Information for Candidates

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

  

Scrutineer Form and Code of Conduct

Candidates may select scrutineers to represent them at a voting station and during the counting of ballots.

 

As per the Elections and Referenda Act, candidates may appoint one scrutineer to each polling location. A scrutineer may represent a candidate at their designated voting station and observe the election procedures on their behalf. For more information on the responsibilities of a scrutineer, please review the ERA at www.metiselectionsab.com/election_act_and_regulations. In addition, candidates may appoint one scrutineer to represent them at the counting of mail-in ballots in Edmonton.

 

If you wish to appoint scrutineers, please complete the Scrutineer Form for each of your selected scrutineers. Please click on the link below to view the Scrutineer Form:

Scrutineer Form

 

Please submit the completed Scrutineer Forms to the OCEO: [email protected]. Candidates also received one of these forms as part of their nomination package.

 

Please note that scrutineers must abide by and sign the Code of Conduct upon their arrival at the voting station/counting location. Failure to comply with the Scrutineer Code of Conduct will result in their removal. Please click on the link below to view the Code of Conduct:

Code of Conduct

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the OCEO at: [email protected]

 

General Election Candidate Package

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer has prepared a General Election Candidate Package. This package includes an overview of the nomination and registration process, acceptable behaviour during campaigning, and what is expecting during and at the close of the vote.

Please click on the image icon below to view the General Election Candidate Guide and Information Bulletin from the Chief Electoral Officer regarding status letter requirements for potential candidates:

     

What is a Candidate?

A candidate is a person whose nomination for an elected office is confirmed. To be eligible to run as a candidate, on the day your nomination papers are filed, you must:

  • Be a Citizen who is eligible to vote according to the Election Law;
  • Be 18 years of age or older on the close of the voting;
  • Be living in Alberta for at least 90 days immediately prior to the close of voting; and
  • Have no financial debt owing to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government or its affiliates that is more than 30 days in arrears.

 

Each candidate may only run for one position in an election. Each candidate must also sign a declaration confirming that they are not registered on the Indian Registry System, pursuant to the Indian Act, and/or on a Band List.

 

For the 2023 General Election, all nomination papers must be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer at a location specified by the Chief Electoral Officer prior to 5:00pm on July 30th, 2023. Note that the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer will be open the weekend of July 29th, 2023 to receive nomination submissions.

 

Roles Available

Citizens’ Representative

Every Citizens’ Representative is responsible for representing the rights, interests, and claims of the Citizens in their respective District in relation to all matters not assigned to their District Council and for working with other members of the Citizens’ Council to advance the purpose, goals, and responsibilities of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

 

This is a full-time, elected role with a 4-year term under the Election Law. This role requires the ability to travel and there may be additional time required as needed, based on the work of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. Candidates must be ordinarily resident in the District in which they are seeking election for at least 90 days immediately prior to the close of voting.

 

Base Annual Salary: $90,000 plus travel expenses per Otipemisiwak Métis Government policy.

Annual Cabinet Stipend (applicable for any Representative appointed to Cabinet): $30,000

 

District Captain

The authority and responsibility of District Councils extends to the following matters:

(a) the operation of the District Council, including the holding of meetings, elections, financial management, accountability, and reporting to Citizens residing in the District;

(b) administration of the business of the District Council; as ratified by the Citizens of the Métis Nation within Alberta in November 2022 Page 12 of 21;

(c) the conduct of consultation and accommodation with the Crown, industry, and other Indigenous groups on behalf of the Citizens residing in the District regarding their rights, claims, and interests;

(d) environmental monitoring in relation to the District;

(e) repatriation, ownership, and management of lands for the use and benefit of the Citizens residing in the District;

(f) overseeing Institutions to develop and deliver programs and services for the benefit of the Citizens residing in the District;

(g) consulting with Citizens within the District regarding and voting on ratification of any modern-day treaty or land claims agreement with the Crown;

(h) authority and responsibility regarding specified matters as delegated by the Citizens’ Council; and

(i) instituting and amending policies in relation to the above listed matters provided that such policies are consistent with Otipemisiwak Métis Government laws.

 

This is a full-time, elected role with a 4-year term under the Election Law. This role requires the ability to travel and there may be additional time required as needed, based on the work of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. Candidates must be ordinarily resident in the District in which they are seeking election for at least 90 days immediately prior to the close of voting.

 

Base Annual Salary: $90,000 plus travel expenses per Otipemisiwak Métis Government policy.

 

Women’s Representative

The Women’s Representative is responsible for representing the rights, interests, and claims of the Citizens of the Métis Nation within Alberta who are women and for working with other members of the Citizens’ Council to advance the purpose, goals, and responsibilities of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. Women’s Representative candidates must be a woman as registered with the MNA.

 

This is a full-time, elected role with a 4-year term under the Election Law. This role requires the ability to travel and there may be additional time required as needed, based on the work of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

 

Base Annual Salary: $90,000 plus travel expenses per Otipemisiwak Métis Government policy.

Annual Cabinet Stipend (applicable for any Representative appointed to Cabinet): $30,000

 

Youth Representative

The Youth Representative is responsible for representing the rights, interests, and claims of the Citizens of the Métis Nation within Alberta who are youths and for working with other members of the Citizens’ Council to advance the purpose, goals, and responsibilities of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. Youth Representative candidates must be between 18-25 years of age as of the last date of the voting period.

 

This is a full-time, elected role with a 4-year term under the Election Law. This role requires the ability to travel and there may be additional time required as needed, based on the work of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

 

Base Annual Salary: $90,000 plus travel expenses per Otipemisiwak Métis Government policy.

Annual Cabinet Stipend (applicable for any Representative appointed to Cabinet): $30,000

 

President

The President is responsible for:

(a)  Providing overall leadership and upholding the purpose, goals, and responsibilities of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government;

(b)  Serving as the chief spokesperson of the Métis Nation within Alberta and the Otipemisiwak Métis Government;

(c)  Leading discussions of the Citizens’ Council and attempting to seek consensus;

(d)  Providing a President’s Report to every meeting of the Citizens’ Gathering; and

(e)  Selecting and mandating Provincial Secretaries from the Citizens’ Council; and voting at meetings only when required to break a tie.

 

This is a full-time, elected role with a 4-year term under the Election Law. This role requires the ability to travel and there may be additional time required as needed, based on the work of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

 

Base Annual Salary: $170,000 plus travel expenses per Otipemisiwak Métis Government policy.

 

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].