It appears an ongoing battle between Mary Ann Morin and the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan is headed back to court.
Last month, a Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench judge ruled Morin never resigned from her position as MN-S treasurer in 2017 and should be recognized by the organization as such.
However, in a document filed on Mar. 27 at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, MN-S President Glen McCallum and others allege Justice Gary Meschishnick erred in his application of the law and Morin has no foundation to continue to represent herself as treasurer.
Morin said she is not necessarily surprised but still disappointed in the MN-S’s decision to appeal.
“Disappointed that they moved so fast on that decision,” she said. “Considering I was elected treasurer with 2,504 votes and it was confirmed at the court that I did not resign and I was reinstated.”
The appeal raises a number of issues with Justice Meschishnick’s decision.
The MN-S says too much time passed before Morin legally challenged the organization’s termination of her as treasurer and she has not fulfilled any duties of the position since Sept. 23, 2017.
She formally brought her legal challenge forward in May 2019.
The appeal also maintains Morin did formally resign from the position of treasurer in the fall of 2017 via email and this resignation cannot be withdrawn.
Morin has always said the email to McCallum was not a formal resignation but only a threat to resign if the MN-S did not meet certain standards of financial transparency and accountability.
Lastly, it states it should be the Provincial Métis Council that has final say in all matters of Métis governance as opposed to a provincial or federal court of law.
Morin said the legal battle has cost her about $25,000 so far.
She said it is unfortunate the ongoing dispute has now ended up in years of legal wrangling but added she has been left with no other option.
“They originally put a legal document against me in December 2018. I continued to try and avoid court but in the end I had no choice.”
Morin says she plans to continue the fight and run for re-election as MN-S treasurer.
(PHOTO: Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Treasurer Mary Ann Morin seen here at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench. Photo by Brendan Mayer.)