Squamish Nation People's Assembly
April 28, 2023
Notice to Members: People's Assembly on April 28, 2023
Friday, April 28, 2023
Time
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Dinner served at 6:00 pm. Quorum established at 6:45 pm.
Location – In-person
North Vancouver
Chief Joe Mathias Centre – 100 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC
Squamish Valley
Totem Hall – 1380 Stawamus Rd, Squamish, BC
Location – Online
Register below by April 25, to receive video streaming link.
Cultural wellness services will be available during the event.
Door Prizes
Four $500 gift cards will be raffled to attendees! Members must pre-register to be eligible to win, and must be in attendance at the time of the raffle (CJMC, Totem Hall, or online). Elected officials and People’s Assembly support staff are not eligible to win.
Childcare
Transportation
Transportation for in-person locations will be available. Please indicate on the registration form if you require this service. View pick-up schedule here.
To download the People’s Assembly Information Package, please log in.
Proposed Agenda
- Meeting Call to Order
- Final Quorum Count at 6:45 pm (158 Members – 5% of eligible voters)
- Approval of Agenda
- Consent Agenda
- Approval of Minutes: November 26, 2022 Squamish Nation Annual General Meeting
- Membership Resolutions
- Consent Agenda
- Presentations:
- Staff Reports on the November 26, 2022 Squamish Nation Annual General Meeting Resolutions 22001 to 22006
- Staff Report on Revisions to the Membership Code
- Meeting Adjournment
Six resolutions were passed at the November 2022 AGM. Staff have reviewed the resolutions and developed plans to address the issues outlined. These implementation plans were reviewed and approved by Council and confirmed to be in compliance with their fiduciary duty to protect the interests of all Members and the Nation as a whole.
At the April 2023 People’s Assembly, staff will present their reports on these resolutions and Members will have the opportunity to ask questions. Staff will also provide an update on ongoing work to update the Membership Code.
How is a Members Resolution passed?
Step one: Members are able to propose a resolution at any of the three People’s Assemblies. Council staff are available to assist with preparation of the resolution for presentation at the Assembly.
Step two: If there are no objections to the proposed resolutions, they will be approved when the agenda is voted on by Membership. Consent agenda items would then be approved to move forward to the next stage at the AGM. (Quorum must be met for voting to occur at any assembly.)
Step three: All approved resolutions from the first and second People’s Assemblies will be included in the agenda for the Annual General Meeting (third People’s Assembly of the year).
Step four: As per the Election and Referendum Law, all resolutions must be voted on and ratified at the AGM. If the resolution is approved by a majority of eligible Members present and voting, then staff will be instructed to begin preparing work on the resolution.
A People’s Assembly resolution is also subject to Council’s fiduciary duty to all Squamish Nation Members. In other words, Council is legally obligated to act in the best interests of the Membership as a whole.
The deadline to submit proposed resolutions for the April People’s Assembly is March 14. If you would like to submit a resolution please email resolutions@squamish.net.
Members who have submitted draft resolutions for the People’s Assembly will be contacted by staff to assist with finalizing and preparing their resolution for presentation at the Assembly.
Quorum is the minimum number of eligible voting members that must be in attendance for voting to occur. The numbers required for quorum are established in the Election and Referendum Law: the first two assemblies of the year require 5 percent of eligible voters to achieve quorum, and the third assembly of the year requires 12 percent of eligible voters to achieve quorum. As of right now, there are 3161 Squamish Nation Members of eligible voting age, so the April People’s Assembly will require 158 Members (5 per cent of eligible voters) to attend to reach quorum.
A resolution is a formal decision of the Membership, voted on by a quorum of Members at an assembly. A resolution can bring an idea forward, call for a change in process, or request work to be done on a certain item. Resolutions are typically focused on one specific topic.
If you are interested in submitting a resolution, email resolutions@squamish.net. Staff will assist you in preparing your resolution.
The deadline to submit proposed resolutions for the April People’s Assembly is March 14.
First, a resolution must be passed at a People’s Assembly, either by a majority of Members voting in favour, or through the approval of a consent agenda. If there is no opposition at the time of voting on the agenda, consent agenda items would be approved to move forward to the next stage. Then, the resolution is included in the agenda for the annual general meeting (third People’s Assembly of the year) and must be approved by a majority of eligible voters present and voting.
A People’s Assembly resolution is also subject to Council’s fiduciary duty to all Squamish Nation Members. In other words, Council is legally obligated to act in the best interests of the Membership as a whole.
Contact Council Advisory & Support staff at CASadmin@squamish.net or 604-980-4553.
