A plebiscite is a direct vote of all members of an electorate on an important issue. It puts a clear question to the electorate requiring a “Yes” or “No” response. The process provides all members of the electorate with an opportunity to have their voices heard and the outcome provides elected officials with direction on next steps related to the issue of significance by measuring support for a potential course of action.

On August 20, 2022, the MNO Annual General Assembly (“AGA”) passed resolution AGA220820-02, directing the MNO to, among other things, “organize and hold a province-wide referendum…so all existing citizens have an opportunity to make their views known on the following question” related to implementing the results of the MNO Registry and Self-Government Readiness Review (“Registry Review”):

Should all existing members/citizens of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and the MNO Secretariat, whose files do not meet the current requirements for citizenship as set out in the MNO Bylaws and Registry Policy, be removed as members/citizens?

For the MNO, the plebiscite is an exercise of Métis self-determination and self-government. It provides the MNO with an opportunity to hear from each of its over 29,000 citizens—as opposed to only those able to attend the MNO AGA or consultation sessions—and measure broad community support for the preferred potential course of action identified by citizens in the province-wide consultation process.

A referendum generally occurs in the context of legislative amendments or enactments and is considered binding on government. A plebiscite, however, functions more as a non-binding advisory opinion to government. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably since both involve a direct vote of all members of an electorate on an important question. Although resolution AGA220820-02 refers to a “referendum,” the MNO’s province-wide vote is more appropriately considered a plebiscite given the content of the question being asked (i.e., which is not specific to a legislative amendment/enactment) and the need to satisfy additional processes and requirements outlined in the MNO Bylaws, in resolution AGA220820-02, and by the courts before being able to “action” an affirmative potential vote outcome (e.g., bylaw amendments, special assembly, special resolutions, etc.).

No. The plebiscite result, in and of itself, cannot amend the MNO Bylaws. As such, if the results demonstrate citizen support for the removal of MNO citizens whose files do not meet the MNO’s current citizenship requirements, additional steps will be required before the MNO can “action” or “give effect” to such results. For example, this may require a special resolution be passed by the MNO General Assembly to amend the MNO Bylaws and/or the development of a fair and transparent reconsideration and appeals process, etc.

The Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (“PCMNO”) met in early November to consider the voting logistics and processes, including the adoption of formal voting guidelines, appointing a Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), setting the applicable voting period, and confirming the available voting platforms (i.e., by telephone, electronic, and mail-in ballot). A copy of the MNO Registry Review Province-Wide Plebiscite Vote Guidelines is available on the MNO’s website, along with the Notice of Vote issued by the CEO on November 18, 2022.The MNO has also retained the services of an independent third-party with expertise in election and voting services (i.e., One Feather) to oversee and assist in the execution of the plebiscite.

Consistent with the MNO Registry Review Province-Wide Plebiscite Vote Guidelines and Notice of Vote, all registered MNO citizens – irrespective of their citizenship file status – who are sixteen (16) years of age or older, and not subject to voting limitations under the MNO Bylaws, are eligible to vote in the plebiscite.

Consistent with the MNO Registry Review Province-Wide Plebiscite Vote Guidelines and Notice of Vote citizens can vote in the plebiscite by telephone, electronic, or mail-in ballot. Applicable processes and procedures related to these various voting platforms (e.g., obtaining PIN numbers, voting packages, voting period/times) will be mailed out to citizens and are also available on the MNO’s plebiscite webpage.

Questions specific to the status of your MNO citizenship file, including questions about how to complete your file, can be sent to the MNO Registry Team via phone toll-free at 1-855-798-1006, local number 613-798-1006, or email at info@mnoregistry.ca. Questions or requests for support related to voting in the plebiscite can be directed to https://www.onefeather.ca/nations/mno