Sanitary Conditions Law update

11/03/2011

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) would like to inform Kahnawa’kehró:non that minor changes to the draft amendments to the Sanitary Conditions Law will be incorporated into a document to be presented to the community in the near future.

The official Second Reading of proposed amendments was held last evening (2, Kentenhkó:wa/November) at the Moose Lodge. A small group assembled for the event, including the proponents of the amendments, several council chiefs and community members.

The changes, mostly for the purposes of clarification, were suggested by participants in the meeting and are now under consideration. The new draft will be published once the work is completed.

“Once people have a clear understanding that these amendments are being proposed to allow the community to properly regulate demolition and recyclable materials that come into the Territory, they offer their support immediately,” said Eva Johnson of the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office. “In the two separate 30-Day Reviews, the vast majority of people participating agree with the amendments.”

There were still some concerns regarding the process being used to amend the law. Some participants were adamant that, should the amendments pass, creation of the actual regulations should also have direct community involvement. This option will be discussed by the Kahnawà:ke Legislative Coordinating Commission, who administers the Community Decision Making Process.

The proposed amendments were designated as “Type 2” laws (those that are regulatory in nature). For information on the process, please go to www.kahnawakemakingdecisions.com.