The trend of controversial band elections at Sturgeon Lake is continuing in 2016.
Band membership was meant to go to the polls this week, but a death in the community delayed it.
A further delay has come as six band councillors – including the acting chief – are removing the chief electoral officer, Leslie Badger, and deputy electoral officer, Claudia McCallum, from their roles.
This major shakeup comes as the result of two things, according to a letter signed by all of Sturgeon Lake Councillors: failing to sign the oath of office and failing to comply with the terms of office.
McCallum and Badger were appointed to their positions on Dec. 17 after Sturgeon Lake’s membership voted for them.
Elder Executive Advisory Council member Mike Daniels says he has a letter saying the officers have tried to remove councillors, but that’s beyond their scope.
“Leslie Badger has written a letter to council that they are terminated. They no longer exist,” he said, but “the CEO and DEO have no authority to dismiss anybody. They don’t. They gotta go to a band referendum to vote for that dismissal.”
In a letter to its membership, band council alleges criminal conduct was also undertaken. However, this has not been confirmed.
A special meeting on Monday will be held to fill the roles of CEO and DEO to oversee the 2016 General Election, Daniels said.
Daniels said they want to get new people in the positions so the election can go ahead.
“We’re trying to do something here so we can have a good election, a good campaign, everything. make it proper,” he said.
That meeting is sure to show the community’s divide. There has been political dysfunction on Sturgeon Lake for years. In 2013 the band refused to recognize Henry Felix as chief, even though he had the most votes. The rationale was that Felix owed the band money.
A court upheld his win but Felix has never been officially reinstated.