(Vancouver, BC) The BC Mètis Federation has been predicting that the current Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) General Election held yesterday would result on one of the lowest voter turnouts ever for this organization. The MNBC General Election voter results further demonstrate how Métis people are more and more disenfranchised by the current MNBC issues. MNBC claims it represents the interests of 60,000 Mètis people while their election had less than 1% of this population vote in the MNBC election.
The MNBC General Election had approximately 560 total voters cast ballots in the MNBC General Election which is down significantly from the previous MNBC General Election in 2008 where approximately 960 voters cast ballots. The MNBC 2012 General Election is down even greater when compared to the MNBC General Election in 2004 where approximately 1600 cast ballots.
The BC Métis Federation has maintained their position that the MNBC General Election was held contrary to the MNBC laws and this clearly had an effect on Mètis people’s choices to not participate. Furthermore BC Mètis Federation is not surprised to see former MNBC President Bruce Dumont re-elected, although by a very slim margin.
BC Métis Federation President Henry stated, “MNBC’s action in how their election was managed was just another example of injustices in this organization. MNBC has significantly reduced voters because more and more Métis people do not care and see the BC Métis Federation as a viable alternative. As past MNBC President Bruce led the downfall, it is only fitting that he carries on leading the full bankruptcy of the MNBC.”
BC Mètis Federation President Henry concluded, “We welcome all of the new disenfranchised MNBC citizenship card holders to the BC Métis Federation. There will be no change within MNBC, Bruce is leading a partial MNBC board with three vacancies, the youth and women committee’s are dysfunctional, and financial crisis is still a very serious challenge for the MNBC. Bruce said he resigned several times leading up to the MNBC election and yet here Métis people are today for another four years under the MNBC. You do not have to have to subscribe to this sort of MNBC representation and the fact is 560 voters is a terrible turnout. MNBC cannot claim they represent 60,000 Metis people in BC any further, no matter what governments try to suggest. In fact even if MNBC has a serious look at their claim of 7000 MNBC citizenship card holders this is less than 9% of their own card holders. No true democratic government would be taken seriously in this world with such a poor turnout. It will be interesting to see what develops next.”
For more information about the BC Mètis Federation please review our website www.bcmetis.com.
Media Inquiries:
Keith Henry
President
BC Métis Federation
#300-3665 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC V5R 5W2
Office 1-604-638-7220
Cell 1-778-388-5013
Email k.henry@bcmetis.com
You can follow BC Métis Federation President Keith Henry on twitter @keithhenryMetis
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