Letter sent earlier today…
Honourable Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Government of Canada (AANDC)
Dear Minister Valcourt,
BC Metis Federation writes today in response to the Canadian Press coverage in the article “Saskatchewan Metis leader calls on Ottawa to end national funding”. Frankly the statements and media coverage from Métis Nation of Saskatchewan (MN-S) President Robert Doucette come as no surprise to thousands of Métis people across this country. In this latest article MN-S President Doucette alleges that the election of Métis National Council (MNC) President Chartier was once again surrounded with issues of illegal procedures and improper governance. Specifically tactics were used to redefine Saskatchewan delegates to insert four individuals in their process to ensure MNC President Chartier was re-elected, which coincidentally was by one seat.
Over the course of the last few months there continues to be mounting evidence of the MNC dysfunction. MNC is insolvent, there remain serious questions about an AANDC audit, and now their governance has once again demonstrated it does not represent their constituents, let alone the Métis people of Canada.
BC Métis Federation continues to call on your office to suspend funding the MNC and address issues for the best interests of all Métis people in Canada. We will be sending a delegation to Ottawa June 12th to meet with you and your officials We hope that we will be afforded time considering that we are traveling across the country to attempt to meet in person and reach mutual decisions.
Thank you,
Keith Henry
President
BC Métis Federation
Suite 300-3665 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC
V5R 5W2