The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan is in danger of losing its federal funding if it does not hold a legislative assembly meeting by the end of the month.
In a letter to MNS President Robert Doucette, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt says the organization is in violation of its funding agreement for failing to hold a legislative assembly by Sept. 30.
The federal government provides the MNS with about $400,000 per year.
Doucette says he has been trying to get the provincial council to hold a meeting for weeks so they can set a date for a legislative assembly meeting.
“All September I’ve been trying to convince them to come to a PMC meeting and I continue to do that,” he says.
He adds it is time for politicians to put their personal differences aside, work together and set a date for an assembly meeting as soon as possible.
“The position of all the area directors should be that the organization and our people come before our own needs and that’s what it says in our oath.”
MNS Vice-President Gerald Morin agrees with the federal government’s decision to cut funding but lays the blame on Doucette.
He says the President has failed to hold legislative assemblies, follow the MNS constitution and respond to numerous concerns from the Provincial Métis Council.
Morin says it is time to restore democracy to the organization.
“So that is going to be our job to try to ensure we have a meeting, that information is provided to us and that we can restore democracy so we can get our funding back and represent our people effectively,” he says.
In a released statement, Saskatchewan Minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs’ office says, “We regret to hear this news and we hope the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan (MNS) is able to continue serving Métis people in the province. The MNS has been facing internal governance issues for some time now, and it is unfortunate it has been unable to resolve the situation. The province values its relations with Métis institutions that deliver services to improve outcomes for Métis citizens of Saskatchewan.”
The province does not provide core funding to the MNS but has provided the organization with roughly $50,000 this year for participation in the Joint Task Force on Aboriginal Education and Employment project and for a liaison who works with the MNS to best determine hunting and fishing allowances.
Doucette and members of the provincial council have been engaged in a battle since last year over who has the authority to call a legislative assembly meeting.
A court decision earlier this year found Doucette was in violation of the constitution for holding two meetings in 2013 without full agreement from the provincial council.
The MNS has not held an official legislative assembly since 2010.
Doucette says in his latest request he has asked the provincial council to meet on Oct. 11.