MNBC Board Fails to Follow the Constitution and Its Own Legislation in Calling for By-Election

(September 15, 2021) The Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) Board of Directors has failed to follow its own legislation in moving forward to hold a by-election to fill the position of President and other positions. The breach in process is revealed in the posting of draft resolutions by MNBC for a special Métis Nation Governing Assembly (MNGA) to be held on Sunday, September 26th.

Article 3.7 of the MNBC Electoral Act clearly states that the MNBC Board is charged with developing a call for proposals for the role of Chief Electoral Officer and then short listing potential contractors. The short list is then provided to the MNGA to select the Chief Electoral Officer from. The MNBC Board has failed to follow this required process. Instead they have provided just one name to the MNGA to consider.

BC Métis Nation Leader Clara Morin Dal Col said,” When I was President of MNBC, I very well remember the then President of the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria Patrick Harriot demanding that the MNGA be given a short list of qualified contractors to choose the Chief Electoral Officer from, but that seems to have changed now that he is on the Board.” She also notes that, “the one and only contractor proposed by the Board just happens to be the same one used for the 2020 MNBC General Election who was $32,000 more than another potential contractor.”

Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “The MNGA should reject the resolution, tell the MNBC Board to follow the rules and bring forward a list of potential contractors.”

The MNBC Board also seems to have a big problem in following Article 46 of the MNBC Constitution. It says (in part) “…a by-election shall be held within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date of any vacancy on the MNBC…” The President’s position became vacant on August 20, 2021 meaning that a by-election for the position must be held no later than about December 20, 2021, but yet the three option dates provided to the MNGA are all after that date.

The BC Métis Nation Leader said, “Either the MNBC Board has purposely ignored the 120 day requirement for some political reason, or they haven’t taken the time to count the days on a calendar.”

Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “They do not have the right nor the authority to ignore the constitutional requirement of 120 days. They had the gall to remove me as President, claiming on questionable grounds that I did not follow the rules but yet here it is very plain that they are clearly not following the rules as spelled out in our Constitution and Electoral Act.” Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “They need to be held accountable and I hope the MNGA sends them a clear message.”

“It also seems very strange”, said Ms. Morin Dal Col, “that the MNGA is being held on Sunday, September 26th, the day after the MNBC AGM takes place.” “Now why would that be?” asked the BC Métis Nation Leader. “I would suggest that the Board is fearful of what might occur at the MNGA and thought they would move it to the day after to avoid any embarrassment.”

Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “Métis people in BC are growing weary of the games being played, including sprinkling money around – money which I negotiated at the federal level along with MNC President Clem Chartier and MMF President David Chartrand. Many of MNBC's citizens have been in touch with me expressing their frustration and anger at the current situation, and seeking a new path. I say to each of you please stay tuned. I will not disappoint you because the needs of the true Métis – the Red River Métis – are my focus.”

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For further information:

Contact President Clara Morin Dal Col

Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com