Mary Ann Morin seen leaving Prince Albert Court of Queen's Bench on Dec. 20. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Political Unrest

Decision reserved in Metis Nation resignation dispute

Dec 20, 2019 | 5:37 PM

A court case involving the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan (MNS), and a woman who claims she did not resign as treasurer, won’t be resolved until after Christmas.

At the conclusion of Friday’s hearing at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench, Justice G.A. Meschisnick reserved his decision.

Mary Ann Morin who was elected treasurer in May 2017, is arguing a motion brought forward to the Provincial Métis Council in September of that year, indicating she would resign if her concerns were not addressed, was not a formal resignation. Morin’s Lawyer Mitch Holash told the court there were no actual documents to show proof of resignation, only ones which referred to it.

Morin, who had campaigned on the platform of financial accountability, was demanding at the time to see various financial records, which were not being provided to her including the expenses for the previous summer’s Back to Batoche Festival. Holash said there was a negative response to Morin’s activity, and for the court he read out loud words contained in a letter, intercepted between members of the MNS executive.

“WTF she has to go,” the letter stated.

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Josh Morrison, the lawyer representing the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan explained the MNS was in a “state of chaos” at the time and did not have the staff to handle Morin’s various requests.

In 2015, the MNS had its government funding frozen, and was only able to start operating again after agreeing to a third party funding proposal. Morrison said Morin should have focused on helping with the rebuilding exercise, rather than thinking “sending emails and snapping her fingers” could make it happen.

Morin’s notice of motion was eventually placed on the agenda at the Métis Nation’s Provincial Council meeting the following September, at which time they accepted it.

Mitch Holash argued his client had made multiple requests to Provincial Council members prior to the meeting to have the motion rescinded to no avail.

Josh Morrison in turn also raised issue with the amount of time that has gone by since the meeting, questioning Morin’s motives. Morrison cited how Morin has tried a political protest at the Métis Nation’s legislative assembly last April, 2018 and when that failed her “silver bullet” was taking legal action.

“That is simply not acceptable,” he said.

Justice Meschisnick said the case comes down to one question, was there an “unequivocal” resignation. No timeline has been given for when the written decision may come down.

Injunction

Prior to reserving his decision, Justice Meschisnick had more than one request to deal with.

Josh Morrison was seeking an injunction on Morin’s activities. He claimed there have been numerous examples, one as recently as Dec. 13, where Morin has used MNS letterhead to communicate with other MNS members about the case, and was still identifying herself as the treasurer.

Rather than ordering an all out injunction, Meschisnick opted instead to order a temporary injunction and asked Morin to not use any more letterhead or suggest in any way she was the MNS treasurer. Despite some reservation, Morin, while holding an eagle feather in her right hand, promised to respect the request.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell