Beeswax v. Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

Beeswax v. Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Court (s) Database
Federal Court Decisions
Date
2023-06-01
Neutral citation
2023 FC 767
File numbers
T-1144-22
Notes
A correction was made on September 25, 2023
Digest
Decision Content
Date: 20230601
Docket: T-1144-22
Citation: 2023 FC 767
Ottawa, Ontario, June 01, 2023
PRESENT: The Honourable Madam Justice Strickland
BETWEEN:
DENISE BEESWAX
Applicant
and
CHIPPEWAS OF THE THAMES FIRST NATION
Respondent
JUDGMENT AND REASONS
[1] The Applicant, Denise Beeswax, has brought an application for judicial review of the decision by the Chief and Council of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation [COTTFN Council] removing her from her position as an elected Councillor of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation [COTTFN], the Respondent.
[2] For the reasons that follow, I am allowing this judicial review of COTTFN Council’s decision because it was effected without jurisdiction or authority.
I. Background [3] The Applicant is a member of COTTFN. She has been elected as a Councillor for three consecutive terms, most recently by way of an election held on July 28, 2021.
[4] It is undisputed that COTTFN’s elections are governed by the Indian Act, RSC 1985, c I-5 [Indian Act].
[5] At a May 3, 2022 special council meeting, a motion was passed by the other members of the COTTFN Council directing that the Applicant be removed from elected office for the remainder of the 2021-2023 council term. By letter dated May 4, 2022, those members of COTTFN Council advised the Applicant of their decision, which was stated to have been made having considered workplace violence complaints received from staff members and the Applicant’s aggressive, disrespectful and even violent conduct at Council table, contravening the COTTFN Council’s Code of Conduct and Oath of Office, and impacting Council’s ability to govern.
[6] By letter of the same date, Chief Jacqueline French, on behalf of COTTFN Council also advised the staff of the COTTFN that in April 2022, Council had received a complaint of workplace violence by Councillor Beeswax against a staff member and described COTTFN Council’s response to this, which included causing an independent investigation to be conducted. As a result of the findings of the investigator, COTTFN Council concluded that the Applicant posed a danger to the staff of the COTTFN. COTTFN Council stated that it had also reviewed concerns with the Applicant’s conduct over a lengthy period of time at COTTFN Council meetings and concluded that her ongoing conduct constituted significant violations of COTTFN Council’s Code of Conduct. COTTFN Council stated that it had decided that the Applicant would be removed from office for the remainder of her term, effective May 3, 2022. Further, that until suitable safety procedures were effected, the Applicant would continue to be banned from all administrative buildings where COTTFN staff work and deliver services.
[7] The Applicant states that she disputes the allegations against her and does not accept the conclusions of COTTFN Council. However, her application for judicial review is not concerned with the merits of the decision. Rather, it is premised solely on her assertion that the COTTFN Council lacks jurisdiction and authority to remove her from elected office.
II. Preliminary Point [8] The minutes of the COTTFN special council meeting held on May 3, 2022 indicate that Council addressed the allegations by staff of workplace violence. These allegations pertained to events occurring on April 5, 2022 and are described in the resultant “Investigation of Workplace Violence Concerning COTTFN Denise Beeswax” dated May 2, 2022 prepared by Jim St. Germain, a part time human resources consultant engaged by COTTFN [Workplace Violence Report]. Specifically, that on April 5, 2022, the Applicant is alleged to have: inappropriately attended a meeting of senior administrative personnel and to have exhibited aggressive, bullying and intimidating behaviour; made an inappropriate demand for money to be deposited in her account on behalf of another family, contrary to policies and procedures, and to have done so in a way that was intimidating and harassing to staff who felt threatened by the Applicant’s actions; falsely accused the acting executive administrator of assault; and made Facebook posts about the alleged assault which were allegedly inflammatory and potentially defamatory.
[9] The meeting minutes acknowledge that there were two decisions to be made, one of which was how to protect staff in light of the Workplace Violence Report. COTTFN Council addressed this by banning the Applicant from all administrative buildings where staff work or delivery of programs and activities take place until suitable safety procedures were effected. That decision is not challenged by the Applicant.
[10] The other decision made by COTTFN Council, to remove the Applicant from office, is the only decision that is the subject of this judicial review.
III. Decision Under Review [11] The May 4, 2002, letter states as follows:
Dear Denise,
It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform you of Council’s decision to remove you from your position as a Councillor.
This decision has not been made lightly. Council has reviewed and deliberated based on our leadership responsibilities and the Seven Nokomis/Mishoomis teachings.
Having received several complaints of workplace violence from several staff members; Council as employer was obligated to investigate these claims. A fair and transparent process was established, and an independent investigator was retained. You were provided with a summary of the complaints and an opportunity to respond to them. You elected not to participate in this process. Based on an objective review of the evidence before him, the investigator found all complaints to be substantiated.
Council provided you with notice of our intention to review the findings of the investigator and you were offered the opportunity to speak to these findings at a Council meeting on May 2, 2022. You did not attend.
Council acknowledges its responsibility to ensure our staff are safe and are not subjected to violence in the workplace. We cannot tolerate or condone aggressive and threatening behaviour by a Councilor toward employees who serve our nation. Council was obligated to consider the risks your actions posed and to take action in response.
Council was also required to consider your conduct at the Council table given its impact on our ability to govern. Over the past several years, we have witnessed aggressive, disrespectful, and even violent conduct in contravention of our Code of Conduct and Oath of Office. As you peers, we have tried to address the harm this has caused including through open discussions at the Council table, through one-on-one discussions and through talking circles. You have also been previously suspended from your committee work and the receipt of honoraria as a result of aggressive and violent conduct.
Although you have acknowledged your conduct is not becoming of your office and have undertaken to change, such change has not occurred. What we have witnessed instead, particularly through recent social media posts, is a continuation of conduct in violation of our Codes and an effort to escalate division and within our community.
The cumulative impact of your conduct has not only threatened the sanctity of the Council office and the safety of staff, but it has interfered with Council’s ability to govern and carry out our responsibilities to our members.
We have made this decision on what we, as leaders believe is in the best interest for the Nation.
We acknowledge your significant and valuable contributions to Council. We respect your passion, your insight, and your perspectives. Unfortunately, Council cannot continue to tolerate conduct which poses both a risk to the safety of our staff and community members and undermines Council’s ability to govern.
We are mindful of the impact of this heavy decision and Council will continue to offer you support through the process.
IV. Relevant Legislation
Indian Act, RSC 1985 c I-5
Definitions
2(1) in this Act,
… council of the band means
(a) in the case of a band to which section 74 applies, the council established pursuant to that section,
(b) in the case of a band that is named in the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act, the council elected or in office in accordance with that Act,
(c) in the case of a band whose name has been removed from the schedule to the First Nations Elections Act in accordance with section 42 of that Act, the council elected or in office in accordance with the community election code referred to in that section, or
(d) in the case of any other band, the council chosen according to the custom of the band, or, if there is no council, the chief of the band chosen according to the custom of the band; (conseil de la band)
Elections of Chief and Band Councils
Elected councils
74 (1) Whenever he deems it advisable for the good government of a band, the Minister may declare by order that after a day to be named therein the council of the band, consisting of a chief and councillors, shall be selected by elections to be held in accordance with this Act.
…..
Tenure of Office
78 (1) Subject to this section, the chief and councillors of a band hold office for two years.
Vacancy
(2) The office of chief or councillor of a band becomes vacant when
(a) the person who holds that office
(i) is convicted of an indictable offence,
(ii) dies or resigns his office, or
(iii) is or becomes ineligible to hold office by virtue of this Act; or
(b) the Minister declares that in his opinion the person who holds that office
(i) is unfit to continue in office by reason of his having been convicted of an offence,
(ii) has been absent from three consecutive meetings of the council without being authorized to do so, or
(iii) was guilty, in connection with an election, of corrupt practice, accepting a bribe, dishonesty or malfeasance.
Issues and Standard of Review [12] There is a preliminary issue raised by the Applicant as to the admissibility of the seven affidavits filed by COTTFN in response to her application for judicial review.
[13] In my view, the issues on the merits of the decision can be addressed as follows:
Did COTTFN Council have jurisdiction/authority to remove the Applicant from her elected position as Councillor?
If so, was the decision to remove the Applicant reasonable?
[14] In assessing the merits of the COTTFN Council’s decision, there is a presumption that the reviewing court will apply the reasonableness standard, this includes where the jurisdiction of a decision-maker is raised (Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v Vavilov, 2019 SCC 65 at paras 23, 25, 65-68; Turner-Lienaux v Canada (Attorney General), 2022 FCA 213 at para 7; Shirt v Saddle Lake Cree Nation, 2022 FC 321 at paras 30-31 [Shirt]). The circumstances of this matter do not warrant a departure from that presumption.
Preliminary Issue: Admissibility of Affidavit Evidence [15] The Respondent has submitted seven affidavits in support of its response to this application for judicial review. Three of the ten COTTFN Council members that attended the May 3, 2022 meeting provided affidavits: the affidavit of Chief Jacqueline French who also served in that office in the immediate prior term, sworn on December 5, 2022 [French Affidavit]; the affidavit of Myeengun Henry, elder, former Chief and current Councillor of COTTFN, sworn on December 3, 2022 [Henry Affidavit]; and, the affidavit of Evelyn Young, current Council member who also served in the immediate prior term, sworn on December 6, 2022 [Young Affidavit]. Additionally, the Respondent has filed: the affidavit of Candace Doxtator, COTTFN Council Secretary/Policy Analysist, sworn on December 8, 2022 [Doxtator Affidavit]; affidavit of Joan Riggs, Catalyst Research and Communications who has worked with COTTFN Council since 2019, sworn on December 6, 2022 [Riggs Affidavit]; affidavit of Jim St. Germain, part-time human resources consultant to COTTFN since March 23, 2022, sworn on December 2, 2022 [St. Germain Affidavit]; and, affidavit of Sheila Jaggard, President of Ultimate Potential Inc and interim Executive Administrator with COTTFN since August 2021, sworn on December 4, 2022 [Jaggard Affidavit].
Applicant’s Position [16] The Applicant submits that the affidavits contained in the Respondent’s motion record are largely inadmissible on three grounds.
[17] First, the affidavit evidence relates to the merits of the decision and purported basis for the removal of the Applicant from office. The affidavits were not before the decision maker, COTTFN Council, when the decision was made and it is well-established that, absent narrowly defined exceptions which the Applicant says do not apply here, judicial review is limited to material that was before the decision-maker (citing Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada v Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency, 2012 FCA 22 at para 20 [Access Copyright] and Halcrow v Kapawe’no First Nation, 2021 FC 219 at paras 37-39). Accordingly, virtually all of the Respondent’s affidavit evidence is inadmissible and should either be struck or disregarded.
[18] Second, the affidavits contain extensive statements of opinion regarding the subjective views of the affiants about the Applicant, which the Applicant asserts is subjective opinion evidence from the COTTFN Council and their employees/contractors submitted in an attempt to justify the decision. This evidence is both inflammatory and constitutes opinion evidence. Therefore, much of the affidavit evidence is also inadmissible on that basis.
[19] Finally, the three of the seven affidavits are those of the decision-makers and purport to provide explanations for their decision. The Applicant asserts that this is a clear attempt to bootstrap the decision and add after-the-fact explanations to justify their decisions to this Court. As such, these affidavits must be struck or given no weight (citing Stemijon Investments Ltd v Canada (Attorney General), 2011 FCA 299 at paras 41-42).
[20] The Applicant submits that the reasons for the decision are contained in COTTFN Council’s decision letter and cannot be supplemented.
[21] When appearing before me, counsel for the Applicant indicated that to the extent that the affidavit evidence addresses what is recorded in the minutes of COTTFN Council meetings that were considered by Council when making the decision, as found in the certified tribunal record [CTR], this is not problematic, but it cannot go further. In any event, this is a secondary issue as this matter turns on jurisdiction, not on the merits of the removal, which is what the affidavit evidence primarily addresses.
Respondent’s Position [22] The Respondent submits that the affidavit evidence is necessary for the Court to conduct a meaningful judicial review.
[23] The Respondent submits that the Court should not ignore or disregard the affiants’ evidence in circumstances where the Applicant has not specifically identified the portions of the affidavits containing the extrinsic evidence allegedly not before the Council (citing Peguis First Nation v Canada (Attorney General), 2021 FC 990 at para 92).
[24] And, although none of the affidavits were before Council when it made its decision and three of the seven affidavits are from Councillors who made the decision, this does not constitute an improper attempt to bootstrap the decision or supplementing the evidence that was before the Council. The Respondent submits that the Applicant holds an impractically narrow view of admissibility which is not supported by the case law. Further, that the unduly technical objection that the affidavits were not before Council ignores that the information contained in the affidavits was before Council when it made the decision because the Councillors lived and shared their experiences pertaining to the Applicant’s conduct Council meetings. And, although the minutes of the May 3, 2022 Council meeting are provided by the Applicant in her record, these only summarize the discussions, they are not a complete evidentiary record. The Respondent submits that the affidavits are the equivalent of a transcript of Council’s deliberations. The Applicant herself includes in her record the May 3, 2022 minutes of the special Council meeting held to discuss the Applicant’s conduct. Moreover, the CTR contains documents referenced in the affidavits currently before this Court (with the exception of Exhibits A, B and F to the Riggs Affidavit, and Exhibit A of the Doxtator Affidavit).
[25] The Respondent submits that to the extent that any portions of the Respondent’s affidavits contain extrinsic evidence not before the Council, such evidence provides “background information concerning the issues to be addressed in judicial review” and/or “concerns the jurisdiction of the decision-maker”, including “violations of natural justice or procedural fairness by the decision-maker” (citing State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v Privacy Commissioner of Canada, 2010 FC 736 at para 54).
[26] Finally, with respect to the Applicant’s concern about the admissibility of opinion evidence, the Respondent states that it is well-established that “lay witnesses” may give opinion evidence if “the conclusions are ones that a person of ordinary experience can make” which include opinions on “the emotional state of a person” (citing Toronto Real Estate Board v Commissioner of Competition, 2017 FCA 236 at para 78 [Toronto Real Estate Board] and Graat v The Queen, 1982 SCC 33 at p 835-836 [Graat]).
Analysis [27] Pursuant to Rule 317 of the Federal Courts Rules, SOR/98-106 [Rules], an applicant may request material relevant to an application that is in possession of the decision maker and not in the possession of the applicant by serving on the decision-maker a written request identifying the material requested. In this matter, in her Notice of Application the Applicant made such a request:
The Applicant requests, pursuant to Rule 317 of the Federal Court Rules, that the Respondent CTFN send a certified copy of the following material that is not in the possession of the Applicant, but is in the possession of the Respondent to the Applicant and to the Registry:
All material considered by the CTFN Council in coming to the Decision, including but not limited to:
• All evidence or information relied upon in coming to the Decision;
• All correspondence to and from the CTFN Chief and Council regarding the removal proceeding that led to the Decision;
• All correspondence with third parties regarding the investigation of the complaint, including any engagement letter, correspondence regarding the scope of the investigation, and other communications between the investigator and CTFN or its legal counsel. (To the extent the CTFN asserts privilege over these materials, the CTFN has waived privilege by relying on this investigation in support of the Applicant’s removal).
• Records from meetings where the Decision was made or was discussed (the “Meetings”);
• Records regarding notice of the Meetings, minutes of the Meetings, the agenda for the Meetings, notes from any participants in the Meetings and any other record of the Meetings (including audio or video recordings);
• Any CTFN Laws, Bylaws or resolutions that were relied upon in relation to the Decision;
• Any internal communications amongst the CTFN Council relating to the Decision or the investigation, including text messages, emails, and other communications between the Council members; and
• Any other materials that are relevant to the decision.
[28] In response, on August 3, 2022, Candace Doxtator, Council Secretary for COTTFN, certified that the documents contained in the attached CTR were true copies of the original materials described in Rule 317. This includes documents such as the Chi-Inaakonigewin (the supreme law of Deshkan Ziibing Anishinaabe Aki (COTTFN)), the COTTFN Leadership Manual, various policy documents, as well as documents understood to have been before COTTFN Council when it made its decision, including minutes of Council meetings from March 21, 2018 to May 3, 2022.
[29] The jurisprudence is clear that, as a general rule, the evidentiary record before a Court on judicial review is restricted to the evidentiary record that was before the decision-maker. Evidence that was not before the decision-maker and that goes to the merits of the matter is, with certain limited exceptions, not admissible. The recognized exceptions are when an affidavit: provides general background in circumstances where that information might assist the Court in understanding the issues relevant to the judicial review, but does not go further and provide evidence relevant to the merits of the matter decided by the administrative decision-maker; brings to the attention of the reviewing Court procedural defects that cannot be found in the evidentiary record of the administrative decision-maker so that the Court can fulfill its role of reviewing for procedural unfairness; and, highlights the complete absence of evidence before the administrative decision-maker when it made a particular finding (Access Copyright at para 20; see also Bernard v Canada (Revenue Agency), 2015 FCA 263 at paras 19-25; Delios v Canada (Attorney General), 2015 FCA 117 at para 45 [Delios]; Tsleil-Waututh Nation v Canada, 2017 FCA 128 at para 86 [Tsleil-Waututh Nation]).
[30] Accordingly, I do not agree with the Respondent that the Applicant’s position on admissibility of the affidavit evidence is an impractically narrow view or that the Applicant’s objection is unduly technical.
[31] To the extent that the affidavit evidence, such as the affidavit of Chief French, serve to place some of the same documentation as contained in the CTR before the Court, the affidavit evidence is unnecessary but does not offend the above general rule. It is also of note that portions of the affidavit evidence describe events that are also described in the Council meeting minutes and notes found in the CTR. Again, while it is unnecessary, this does not offend the general rule.
[32] More problematic, however, is when the affidavits serve to supplement the events and discussions described in the CTR documents or contain opinion evidence. Efforts to supplement or justify the decision making process or the decision, or opinion evidence, do not fall within the general background exception. As stated by the Federal Court of Appeal in Delios:
[44] Under this exception, a party can file an affidavit providing “general background in circumstances where that information might assist [the review court to understand] the issues relevant to the judicial review”: Access Copyright, above at paragraph 20(a).
[45] The “general background” exception applies to non-argumentative orienting statements that assist the reviewing court in understanding the history and nature of the case that was before the administrative decision-maker. In judicial reviews of complex administrative decisions where there is procedural and factual complexity and a record comprised of hundreds or thousands of documents, reviewing courts find it useful to receive an affidavit that briefly reviews in a neutral and uncontroversial way the procedures that took place below and the categories of evidence that the parties placed before the administrator. As long as the affidavit does not engage in spin or advocacy – that is the role of the memorandum of fact and law – it is admissible as an exception to the general rule.
[46] But “[c]are must be taken to ensure that the affidavit does not go further and provide evidence relevant to the merits of the matter decided by the administrative decision-maker, invading the role of the latter as fact-finder and merits-decider”: Access Copyright, above at paragraph 20(a).
[33] Nor can a decision maker improve upon the reasons given to an applicant by means of affidavit evidence filed in a judicial review proceeding (Sellathurai v Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2008 FCA 255 at para 46).
[34] The Respondent refers to Leahy v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2012 FCA 227, where the Federal Court of Appeal also addressed the content of affidavits in judicial review:
[145] In this regard, counsel should be mindful of the limitations of supporting affidavits on judicial review. They cannot be used as an after-the-fact means of augmenting or bootstrapping the reasons of the decision maker. They may point out factual and contextual matters that are not evident elsewhere in the record that were obviously known to the decision maker. They can also provide the reviewing court with general orienting information, such as how the request for information was handled, how the documents were gathered, and how the task of assessment was conducted. See generally Sellathurai v. Canada (Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2008 FCA 255, [2009] 2 F.C.R. 576, at paragraphs 45 to 47; Stemijon Investments Ltd. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2011 FCA 299, 341 D.L.R. (4th) 710, at paragraphs 40 to 42; Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada v. Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright), 2012 FCA 22, 428 N.R. 297.
[35] It is significant to note at the outset that the purpose of the general rule holding that only the evidence that was before the decision-maker is admissible on judicial review is to respect the distinctive roles of the administrative decision-maker and the Court. The administrative decision-maker determines the matter on its merits. The Court reviews the decision-maker’s decision against the evidence and information they took into account.
[36] In this matter, however, the Applicant is not challenging the merits of the reasons for her removal from office. She is also not asserting that the decision was unreasonable or procedurally unfair. She is exclusively challenging the jurisdiction of COTTFN Council to remove her from her elected office as Councillor.
[37] Accordingly, the issue of the admissibility of the affidavit evidence which pertains to the substantive reasons of COTTFN Council for removing the Applicant from office has limited relevance to the issue of jurisdiction that is before me.
[38] That said, I appreciate that the Respondent takes the position, discussed below, that COTTFN Council had jurisdiction to remove the Applicant from office based on necessary implication and that the affidavit evidence is required for the Court to conduct a meaningful judicial review. However, if the Applicant’s conduct was the reason for – or necessitated – her removal, then her conduct, as considered by COTTFN Council when it made the subject decision, should form a part of and be discernable the record. It should not be necessary to supplement that evidence by way of the subject affidavits.
[39] In my view, portions of these affidavits go beyond describing events that the affiants personally witnessed and which events are otherwise described in the CTR documents. And, in some instances, the affiants provide their opinions as to the Applicant’s mental state, and its impact, which serves to further justify, or bootstrap, the decision to remove her from office. That is, the affidavit evidence goes to the merits of the decision and also adds the affiants’ “gloss” to the events documented in the CTR.
[40] For example, as the Applicant points out, the French Affidavit includes opinion evidence as to the Applicant’s behaviour, including that: the Applicant “is simply unable to function within the collective of Council”; the Applicant’s behaviour “is erratic, unpredictable, threatening and unsafe”; “the Applicant was unhinged”; there is “an overhanging threat at our Council table that the Applicant will lose control and become physically violent”; her behaviour is erratic; emails posted by the Applicant were “in my view, incendiary and dangerous” and “fomented division and created a potential for violence in our community”. The Riggs Affidavit similarly states the opinion that the Applicant’s conduct is disruptive and contrary to the Code of Conduct and “that there was an overhanging threat that her conduct would escalate into physical violence as the Applicant is erratic and unpredictable”. The Henry Affidavit states that the Applicant “is erratic, disrespectful, abusive and, on occasion, has been violent”; the Applicant’s “erratic conduct was embarrassing and humiliating to the Nation”; and “was erratic, unpredictable and I believe, prejudicial to the interests of the Nation”; her behaviour is “very erratic and unpredictable”; and, expresses the view that the “applicant appears not to be able to control her anger or to understand the impact of her actions on others”. The Jaggard Affidavit includes the opinion that the Applicant “seemed unhinged”. The Young Affidavit states that the affiant has “always known the Applicant to be difficult and disruptive” including referencing an incident in 2000 which is not found in the CTR and is unrelated to the Applicant’s actions while a Councillor and that while she has always tried to be patient with the Applicant, “her behaviour is not stable”. The Doxtator Affidavit also describes the affiant’s view that Applicant’s behaviour as erratic and “exceptionally bizarre” and states the opinion that “the Applicant is not stable”.
[41] Further, virtually all of the affidavits add information about past events and add that at that time, the affiants were afraid of what the Applicant might do, that others who they spoke to at the time told them they were afraid, or that they interpreted the Applicant’s behaviour as threatening. The French Affidavit describes the November 2020 incident at a leadership meeting when the Applicant lost her temper and flipped over a table (one of two acts of physical aggression, the other occurred in 2018, when the Applicant is said to have thrown a chair). The affidavit adds that another Councillor at the time (who has not provided affidavit evidence) told Ms. French, who was a Councillor at the time, that she was afraid, and the French Affidavit states that the affiant was afraid and further, while the Applicant left the meeting, she remained in her vehicle in the parking lot, which Chief French says she interpreted as threatening. While this may all be so, there is simply no way of knowing whether these feelings and interpretations were expressed when Council was making its decision to remove the Applicant from office. Accordingly, this type of evidence serves to justify the decision but is not found in the record that was before Council when it made that decision.
[42] The French Affidavit also speaks to the Applicant’s Facebook posts, which are found in the CTR, in which the Applicant asserted that she had been assaulted by the interim executive administrator (Ms. Jaggard) on April 5, 2022. Chief French opines that the posts were incendiary and dangerous, undermined Council, implied that Council was corrupt and misappropriating funds, were threatening and abusive to staff, insinuated that the police were incompetent and racist, fomented and created the potential of violence. However, the emails are found in the CTR and what Chief French is expressing is her opinion and interpretation of the content of the posts – which speak for themselves.
[43] Another example is the Riggs Affidavit. This states that, after the Applicant was removed from office, in a three-day political strategy session, Council moved through a substantive agenda and made decisions on items had not been completed or resolved because of the disruptive behaviour of the Applicant at earlier meetings. First, it is obvious that COTTFN Council could not have considered events that occurred after the Applicant’s removal from office when making the decision to remove her from office. Further, the Riggs Affidavit makes this general statement with no reference to any prior documentation, whether found in the CTR or at all. Most significantly, the purpose of this statement, and much of the Riggs Affidavit, would appear to be to provide after the fact justification for Council’s decision. It also expresses various opinions as to why and how Council reached its decision.
[44] My point is, beyond factual evidence that was before the Council when it made its decision (such as the minutes of past council meetings), much of the affidavit evidence is based on opinion or personal interpretation of events. There is no way of knowing from the record how much of this was expressed at the Council meetings - beyond what is reflected on the record. My concern is that such evidence, if admitted, could supplement the record upon which the decision was based and serve to justify the decision.
[45] For these reasons, I agree with the Applicant that much of the content of the affidavits appears to exceed the information that was in the record before COTTFN Council when it made its decision. I do not agree with the Respondent that the affidavits can be treated as a “transcript” of the meetings – indeed two of the seven affiants (Mr. St. Germain and Ms. Jaggard) were not even attendees at the May 3, 2022 meeting when the decision to remove the Applicant was made. And, while three Councillors have provided affidavits, the remaining seven councillors have not. I would also note that there is no explanation for why the meeting was not recorded (the record includes a recording of a special council budget meeting held on March 31, 2022). More significantly, nothing in any of the affidavits indicates what was actually discussed at the May 3, 2022 council meeting.
[46] Finally, I also do not agree with the COTTFN Council’s submission that the opinion evidence of the affiants is admissible because it is well established that “lay witnesses” may give opinion evidence if their conclusions are ones that a person of ordinary experience can make. COTTFN relies on Toronto Real Estate Board to support this position, however, that matter was a statutory appeal from two decisions of the Competition Tribunal, not a judicial review, and it was concerned with witness statements– the admissibility of which were not challenged. Nor does Graat, also relied upon by COTTFN, assist COTTFN in this administrative law context as it concerns admissibility of non-expert witnesses in the trial of a criminal matter.
[47] In conclusion, because it is impossible to know what aspects of the affidavit evidence were discussed at the May 3, 2022 COTTFN Council meeting, to the extent that the affidavit evidence goes beyond the content of the documentation contained in the CTR and the events addressed therein and speaks to the merits of the decision or provides opinion evidence or justification for the decision, I will afford it no weight.
The COTTFN Council lacked jurisdiction/authority to remove the Applicant from her elected position as Councillor Applicant’s Position [48] The Applicant submits that the application raises one discrete issue – whether COTTFN Council lacked jurisdiction or authority to remove the Applicant from her elected position as Councillor. The Applicant submits that the COTTFN Council had no authority to do so.
[49] COTTFN holds its elections pursuant to the Indian Act. Section 78(2)(b) of the Indian Act expressly addresses removal of an elected member of council before their two-year term of office is complete. That process requires assessment of the factual circumstances and a declaration by the Minister. While the COTTFN Council purported to remove the Applicant by passing a motion at a Council meeting, it had no jurisdiction or power to do so (citing Owen v Little Grand Rapids First Nation, 2020 FC 1092 at paras 2, 6 [Owen]; Fort McKay First Nation v Orr, 2012 FCA 269 [Orr]; Whalen v Fort McMurray No. 468 First Nation, 2019 FC 732 [Whalen]; Shirt at para 36 citing Bell Canada v 7265921 Canada Ltd, 2018 FCA 174 at para 46; Shirt at para 40; McKenzie v Mikisew Cree First Nation, 2020 FC 1184 [Mckenzie]). As COTTFN Council exceeded its authority, the decision must be set aside.
[50] The Applicant submits that there is no authority to ignore the Indian Act provisions or, for example, to treat a councillor like an employee subject to discipline as governed by employment law principles (citing Whalen at para 54). Further, that COTTFN Council has deprived COTTFN members of their democratically elected choice of Councillor (citing Morin v Enoch Cree Nation, 2019 FC 368 [Morin]).
Respondent’s Position [51] The Respondent acknowledges that COTTFN has not yet developed its own custom election code, and therefore, elections take place every two years under the Indian Act. It also acknowledges that the Indian Act has express provisions for the Minister to remove an elected member of council before their two-year term of office is up and that neither the Indian Act or the Indian Band Council Procedure Regulations, CRC, c 950 [IBCP Regulations] expressly grant First Nations councils the ability to remove a councillor for misconduct. The Respondent submits, however, that band councils are not limited to the powers expressly granted under the Indian Act.
[52] The Respondent submits that the Applicant conducted herself in an unruly, disrespectful and sometimes physically violent manner and that despite efforts by Council to address these behaviours, the misconduct continued and even escalated. The Respondent submits that the exercise of power to remove a Councillor, in the exceptional circumstances of this case, was a practical necessity for the COTTFN Council to fulfil its mandate to govern. Denying the existence of this power would lead to absurd and unjust results, incompatible with the principles of reconciliation and Canada’s recognition of the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples to self-govern.
[53] The Respondent submits that the COTTFN has developed other laws, including a Chi-Inaakonigewin (supreme law) and a Leadership Manual. The Respondent submits and that the Leadership Manual “supplements” the obligations of leadership found in the Indian Act and the IBCP Regulations, pending the adoption of a custom election code. Reading together the statutory framework and the ancillary powers doctrine in the context of Parliament’s current policies regarding Indigenous peoples, the COTTFN Council must be able to take the necessary measures to govern themselves when their statutory mandate to govern their citizens is threatened.
[54] In essence, the Respondent submits that the COTTFN Council was permitted to remove the Applicant pursuant to the doctrines of ancillary powers and necessary implication. More specifically, that there is a longstanding statutorily enshrined principle that the powers conferred by an enabling statute include not only those that are expressly granted, but also, by implication, all powers that are practically necessary for the decision-maker to carry out its mandate (citing ATCO Gas & Pipelines Ltd v Alberta (Energy & Utilities Board), 2006 SCC 4 at paras 50-51; Interpretation Act, RSC 1985, c I-21 at s 31(2)). COTTFN Council had authority to remove the Applicant given that: the Indian Act and IBCP Regulations provide for good governance; the IBCP Regulations are not a comprehensive framework and permit band councils to make such rules of procedure that are not inconsistent with those regulations in respect of matters not specifically provided for therein (citing IBCP Regulations at s 23(1) and (2)); and the Leadership Manual supplements the statutory provisions outlining expectations of COTTFN Council and its duty to promote good governance. Moreover, the Respondent asserts that it was not the intention of Parliament to “sit idly by” when a council member consistently acts contrary to their statutory obligations and in