Amendments to the Emergency Preparedness Law in force

04/08/2021

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that a Mohawk Council Resolution (#1/2021-2022) to amend the Emergency Preparedness Law (“The Law”) was unanimously passed at the Tuesday, April 6^th Council meeting.

The amendment allows for the instating of a Recovery Period after a State of Emergency has been lifted, to ensure a gradual transition between the height of an emergency to a state of normalcy.

Additionally, a Mohawk Council Executive Directive (#1/2021-2022) was passed to adopt regulations concerning the authority of the Commissioner of Public Safety and to appoint and attribute enforcement authority to Inspectors during the Recovery Period.

“After the COVID-19 Pandemic slows down, it’s important that we transition our governing bodies and organizations back to normal operations, and ensure we do it safely and responsibly,” said Ratsénhaienhs Frankie McComber, who holds the Public Safety portfolio. “The current law doesn’t allow for authority to continue directives to manage safety once a State of Emergency has been lifted. These amendments and regulations correct that oversight.”

The amendments and regulations grant authority to the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Council of Chiefs and Inspectors during the Recovery Period to amend, issue, or revoke existing, Directives that meet this gradual transition to normalcy.

Under Section 16 of The Law, solely during a State of Emergency, the MCK has the authority to amend existing laws that are necessary for the management of the State of Emergency. Upon conclusion of the Recovery Period, the MCK will assess and determine if the amendments will revert or undergo the Community Decision Making Process.