By paNOW Staff

Feds to stop money flow to Metis Nation-Sask

Oct 2, 2014 | 5:54 PM

The federal government plans to stop funding the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) as of Nov. 1.

This, according to a letter from the Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt, is because the group failed to hold a Metis Nation Legislative Assembly (MNLA) by the end of the September—something required under the funding agreement.

In the letter Valcourt states the MNLA has not happened yet due to “ongoing internal governance issues.”

“It is my hope that Métis Nation-Saskatchewan finds a way to effectively and efficiently give the Métis people of Saskatchewan the governance that they deserve – one which is transparent, accountable and democratic. I also firmly believe that taxpayer dollars are to be used wisely and for the benefit of all Canadians.”

In order for an MNLA to happen the Provincial Metis Council (PMC) has to meet and set a date.

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Robert Doucette, MN-S president, said he’s tried to have a PMC meeting with area directors to meet the requirements of the funding agreement.

“I have attempted to set a meeting and actually have asked them to set the agenda at a date to no avail and I have now again, for the fifth, for the fifth week, actually sent out a notice for a meeting on October 11th at 10 a.m. in Saskatoon and I’ve asked them to come again,” Doucette said.

“One area director actually wrote back to me and said ‘I will not agree to a PMC meeting whose main focus is to set an MNLA.’”

The last meeting the group had to deal with MN-S business was in 2010, according to Doucette.  This is excluding a special election meeting in 2012.

“My question is why is it so hard for the Provincial Metis Council to come to the meeting and set a date for a MNLA?” he said.

In a statement from vice-president Gerald Morin the PMC “regrets” that funding has been suspended but understands why the government had to act.

“According to the majority of the Provincial Métis Council (PMC) this is a result of an ongoing governance crisis attributed to the reckless and undemocratic decisions of President Robert Doucette.  These decisions include ignoring the MN-S Constitution and Legislation, circumventing the elected provincial leaders (PMC), disregarding provincial legislation (Non Profit Corporations Act) and contravening a Court of Queen’s Bench Decision,” the statement read.

 “The PMC has tried to work with President Doucette to convene a Métis Nation Legislative Assembly (MNLA).  When he (President Doucette) sent out notice for a PMC meeting to deal with the MNLA, the only agenda item was to set the date for the MNLA.  In order to hold a properly and duly called MNLA, the PMC has other fiduciary duties besides setting the date.”

Doucette admits he initially refused to meet face-to-face with the group but has since comprised and is asking the local directors to do the same.

As for if anyone will show up to the PMC, time will tell.

“It’s hasn’t been easy,but I think we’re going to get to where we need to be,” Doucette said.

-With files from Canadian Press and Nigel Maxwell

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow