FROG LAKE – Frog Lake First Nation Chief Greg Desjarlais has been removed from office after the Nation’s Election Appeals Committee granted a removal complaint against him, finding that a ,000 payment used toward the purchase of a residential property was an improper use of First Nation funds.

The committee’s written decision follows a public hearing held September 19 into a formal removal complaint brought forward by Frog Lake First Nation member Melantha Abraham.

At the centre of the decision was a $65,000 payment the committee said email records from then-finance officer Kevin Price characterized as non-repayable remuneration for the purchase of a residential property.

The committee found the property purchased with the payment is owned by Desjarlais and is now the residence of an immediate family member.

“The Appeal Committee does not find that the $65,000 was for the benefit of Frog Lake First Nation’s membership,” the decision states.

According to the committee, while providing benefits to members is a normal practice for Chief and Council, the opportunity to live at this particular property was not available to the broader membership.

The committee determined the payment benefited Desjarlais and his family, not Frog Lake First Nation or its membership.

It also found Desjarlais knew the $65,000 was being provided as non-repayable remuneration for his personal benefit.

“The Appeal Committee finds that the use of funds was improper because it was not for the benefit of Frog Lake First Nation or its membership,” the decision reads.

Committee raises transparency concerns

The Appeals Committee also considered how the payment was requested and whether it should have been disclosed to the rest of Council.

According to the decision, the committee heard evidence from William Quinney and Desjarlais about Frog Lake’s common practices surrounding remuneration, transparency and accountability.

The committee acknowledged that no formal guardrails existed for remuneration requests and that requests went directly to finance. It also found approval from other Councillors may not have been required.

However, the committee distinguished between requiring Council’s approval and informing Council about an extraordinary payment.

It found Desjarlais’ failure to tell the other Councillors about the amount and purpose of the $65,000 payment fell below the common and standard practices for transparency and accountability within Frog Lake First Nation.

Evidence showed other Councillors had received large payments, according to the decision, but the committee found Council had been informed about those payments.

The committee said disclosure was therefore part of Frog Lake First Nation’s common practice.

It also placed particular weight on Desjarlais’ position as Chief.

The committee said the Chief holds the Nation’s highest leadership position and, as a result, carries the highest level of trust and responsibility.

“In the Appeal Committee’s opinion, a payment of this nature and in these circumstances should have been disclosed to the rest of Council at the time that it was made,” the decision states.

Payment found to be for ‘personal gain’

The committee went further in its final findings, determining the $65,000 payment was not part of Desjarlais’ salary.

It found the payment “was taken for personal gain” and was improper because it was contrary to the Oath of Office.

Having determined the use of funds was improper under section 11(a)(ii) of the Frog Lake First Nation Election Code, the committee granted the removal referral.

That decision results in Desjarlais’ removal from office.

No by-election before April 2027 vote

Despite the removal, Frog Lake First Nation will not hold a by-election for Chief.

Under the Election Code, a by-election is required when a Chief or Councillor is removed with more than 12 months remaining before the next general election, or when otherwise ordered by the Appeals Committee.

Frog Lake’s next general election is scheduled for April 2027, approximately seven months away.

Because less than 12 months remain, a by-election is not automatically required.

The committee considered using its discretion to order one but ultimately decided against it.

In its decision, the committee said the timeline required to hold a by-election would leave an interim elected Chief serving for too short a period to justify the expense of another election before the April 2027 general election.

Months-long process

The decision brings a significant development in a matter that has been unfolding publicly for several months.

Frog Lake First Nations Council announced earlier this year that Desjarlais had been placed on temporary paid administrative leave while an independent process reviewed matters involving the Chief and Nation governance.

At that time, Council stressed that the administrative leave was precautionary and did not amount to a finding of wrongdoing.

Desjarlais later challenged his suspension in Federal Court and maintained that the removal process contained in Frog Lake First Nation’s Election Code had to be followed.

Abraham then submitted a formal removal complaint on July 25, and the Election Appeals Committee referred it on August 25. A public hearing was held at the Frog Lake Field House on September 19, where the parties were permitted to present evidence, call and cross-examine witnesses and make submissions. Lakeland Connect previously reported on the hearing process.

The Election Appeals Committee has now completed that process and granted the complaint, removing Desjarlais from office.

The decision was signed by Appeal Committee Chair Tanner Stanley and committee members Elaine Carter Harper, Doris Okanee and Cody Paul.