The Métis National Council pulled in more than $19 million last fiscal year

(January 18, 2025) The Métis National Council (MNC) pulled in a huge $19.4 million last fiscal year, most of it from the federal government. MNC now has only two governing members, Métis Nation Alberta and Métis Nation of Ontario, after Métis Nation – Saskatchewan and Métis Nation British Columbia both pulled out last year. The Manitoba Métis Federation withdrew in 2021.

 

So what did MNC do with all that money? According to its financial statements to March 31, 2024 here are some of the bigger expenditures:

 

• $7.6 million in salaries (up nearly $3 million from the previous year)

• $4.4 million in professional fees (double from the previous year)

• $4.3 million for travel, accommodation, meals and facilities (up more than $1 million from the previous year)

• $804 thousand for communication and printing (up more than 36 times from the previous year)

 

How could an organization that now has only two provincial Métis organizations supporting it spend $7.6 million on salaries in a single year? In their annual report which appears to have been drafted in November 2024 they reference “…the strategic positioning of 50 staff members across departments to advance the organization’s objectives.” Yes, you read that right. 50 staff members!! What do all these people do? They don’t deliver programs or services to Métis people struggling to get by…so what do they all do?

 

Here’s some other questions that need answering:

 

• How much are they paying their new President who was picked for her position by Métis Nation Alberta and Métis Nation of Ontario? Is it $200,000, or more?

• Who received the $4.4 million in professional fees?

• What’s the breakdown of the $4.3 million for travel and meals etc. for the one year

• How could MNC have spent more than $800,000 on communication and printing in just one year?

 

BC Métis Leader Clara Morin DalCol asks, “How can an organization that now has only two provincial Métis organizations supporting it justify its existence and justify receiving nearly $19 million from the federal government?”

 

Ms. Morin DalCol says, “MNC is no longer serving any purpose and the next federal government will likely see that and should cut its funding for the 2025/26 fiscal year.”

 

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For further information:

Contact Clara Morin DalCol

BC Métis Leader

Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com