Federal Court allows five Kanehsatà:ke chiefs to form a caretaker council to maintain services after a cancelled election caused months of uncertainty.
Federal Court ruling restores temporary leadership
The Federal Court of Canada has ruled that five outgoing chiefs from the Kanehsatà:ke Mohawk community, northwest of Montréal, can form a caretaker council to manage essential community services. The decision, issued Thursday, comes more than two months after the abrupt cancellation of the community’s August 2 election, which left Kanehsatà:ke without an active governing body.
Limited powers to prevent governance vacuum
The judgment grants the chiefs a restricted mandate to handle urgent administrative and service-delivery duties. The court stated the measure was necessary to prevent “irreparable harm” to residents who have been caught in political limbo since the cancellation. The chiefs will now regain access to council facilities and official email accounts to perform core tasks.
Election cancellation triggers leadership dispute
The community’s election was called off by the chief electoral officer just one day before polls were to open. That decision halted the transfer of power and ignited a legal dispute over who could represent Kanehsatà:ke in the absence of a functioning council. Without access to offices or administrative systems, the outgoing chiefs argued they could not maintain vital services such as housing, social programs, and infrastructure management.
Deep divisions within the community
The ruling highlights ongoing divisions within Kanehsatà:ke, where governance disputes have long strained relations among factions. Some community members, including former grand chief Victor Bonspille, have accused the five chiefs of trying to retain control beyond their mandate. The chiefs maintain their role is purely administrative and temporary, aimed at keeping the community running until a new election can be organized.
Court emphasizes stability over politics
In its written reasons, the Federal Court underscored the need to balance political tensions with practical governance. It concluded that the absence of a council created “unacceptable risk” to the well-being of residents. The caretaker council, therefore, is a stopgap—empowered only to conduct daily operations and uphold existing programs, not to introduce new policies or make long-term decisions.
Next steps and long-term implications
A full court hearing on how and when a new election should take place is not expected until 2026. Until then, the caretaker council will oversee community administration under federal supervision. The ruling provides short-term stability but leaves deeper questions about Kanehsatà:ke’s governance unresolved.
