By Nigel Maxwell

Sturgeon Lake CEO not backing down

Mar 11, 2016 | 5:42 AM

The two people at the centre of the latest political controversy at Sturgeon Lake First Nation said neither the band council nor the elders’ council have any authority to dismiss them once the writ is dropped.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Leslie Badger and Deputy Electoral Officer (DEO) Claudia McCallum are responding to a press release issued on Thursday by the Elders’ Advisory Council. 

“They are suspended and he (Badger spoke to someone from Aboriginal Affairs) said he is not accepting any Elders’ Advisory Councils or anything from this old council,” Badger said.

According to Badger the band council was suspended last month for interfering in election business, and he said the Elders’ Advisory Council has no power or authority over him, as laid out in the band’s election act.

“They should not be getting involved, just because in the past they were able to tell the elected officials what to do, what to say, but this time we are not listening,” McCallum said.

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According to Thursday’s press release the CEO and DEO were removed for a number of reasons including refusing to sign an Oath of Office and mismanaging fee deposits (money paid by each of the candidates in order to run).

McCallum said she dropped off the money on Feb. 23.

“I have people that were with me like my daughter and the receptionist saw me hold up a big envelope,” McCallum said.

McCallum added that when she returned to the band office two hours later to collect her pay cheque, she had asked Councillor Micha Daniels if he had received the money and she was told he had.

“We thought everything was good, they quit bugging us about the money after that,” she said.

On Feb. 29, 2016, Badger and McCallum were informed the money was missing and they were told to hand in their keys. 

On Thursday, Elders Council member Mary Naytowhow estimated up to $7,000 was missing.

Badger said no one really knows for sure how much is allegedly missing.

A nomination meeting is scheduled for 5p.m. Friday at the Sturgeon Lake Community Centre.

“We’re just trying to get our election going,” McCallum said. “Just have fair treatment with our democratic right.”

McCallum said members of the RCMP will be there just in case there is an incident.

Members of the Elders’ Advisory Council and their supporters are holding a rally Friday morning at 10a.m. outside the John McDonald building, located at 3601 Fifth Ave. E.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On twitter: @nigelmaxwell