Update on Meetings of Four Members of the MNC Board of Governors
(November 8, 2007) --- I had hoped that by today, I would be able to provide a definitive report on the outcome of our meetings last week in Ottawa. I would like to provide this brief update and advise that we should expect to hear a response to our proposals some time next week (the week of November 12, 2007).
As noted in our release of October 24th which is posted on the MNO website, we held meetings on October 31st with a view to analyzing options for a way to go forward and resolve the issues which have caused the MNC to come to a standstill. We had invited David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Métis Federation to join us be he refused unless we agreed to his ultimatums. He also proposed that we meet by conference call. We proceed with our meetings because, under the circumstances where the issues are so complex, they required a face to face meeting between us and Dale LeClair, MNC Chief Administrative Officer. We also had scheduled a face to face meeting with Rod Bruinooge, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Federal Interlocutor for Métis. Senator Gerry St. Germain attended that meeting as well.
After much thought and discussion, we proposed to Mr. LeClair that he simply reconvene the Assembly which was being held on October 13-14 and which was left in abeyance when the Chair (Mr. Leclair) left the meeting stating that he could not continue the business of the Assembly at that time. Since then there have been calls by various people to return to the courts to determine the status of the delegates of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
We do not agree that we should be returning to the courts for two essential reasons. First, the court action launched by David Chartrand and Clement Chartier, past President of the MNC, have already cost the Métis National Council approximately $100,000 for its defense of the court action. This is over and above what it will have cost for the Plaintiffs to date (Chartrand and Chartier). The MNC does not have a budget for these expenditures. It would be foolhardy for the MNC to return to the courts. As well, there is legal opinion that there is no mandate for the MNC to return to the courts.
Secondly, we believe the issue of delegate status is one that can, and must, be determined by the Métis people themselves, not the courts. If we place any value in stating that we have a right of self-determination then surely we must place faith in our democratic processes in order to make decisions that are fair and defensible. The Chair stated that he would be guided by “Roberts Rules of Order”. There is a provision in these rules for a challenge to the legitimacy of the credentials of any delegate. A motion was made by Mr. Chartrand and it was seconded. The Chair ruled that those whose credentials were being challenged could not vote on the motion. This ruling was accepted by all the delegates from Alberta, including the 8 individuals whose credentials were being challenged. However, the meeting ended when the Chair left the room leaving the Assembly without a way to proceed. No motion to adjourn the Assembly was made or voted upon. In our view, the Assembly was suspended on October 14th. We should simply return to the Assembly and vote on Mr. Chartrand’s motion and then proceed with the primary purpose of the Assembly, the election of a national President.
Meanwhile, since the MNC has not yet elected a President, it cannot act legally because a President must be present in order to form quorum. We continue to be under the court order that the MNC Board of Governors may not meet as a legally constituted Board until the election of President takes place. It is imperative, therefore, that the MNC General Assembly be reconvened and that we conclude the business of electing a National President.
We met with Mr. Bruinooge and Senator St. Germain to request funds to reconvene the Assembly if Mr. LeClair would agree to do so. While, their response could only be “in –principle”, we did receive a favorable hearing and believe that if there was agreement to return to the Assembly and a request made by the Chair, that funds would be forthcoming to enable us to proceed.
Mr. LeClair asked for time to consult with legal counsel and others. He has confirmed that he expects to have a decision and a response to our request by early next week. In the meantime the Government of Canada has announced it will not provide any new funding until the matter of Election of President is cleared up and there is a legal capacity to enter into contracts. Very regrettably, it became necessary for Mr. LeClair to lay-off all staff with the exception of the Director of Finance, an Assistant and himself. Fortunately, funds were available to pay all staff their full pay and full severance packages.
No doubt, once Mr. LeClair announces his decision next week, I will be informing everyone and will be making further comment accordingly at that time.
Tony Belcourt
President
Métis Nation of Ontario
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