David Chartrand Sounds a Little Bitter

Article in todays Winnipeg Free Press:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/story/4121928p-4716562c.html

Member manoeuvred off board?

Claims criticisms of Métis federation president led to his removal

Fri Feb 8 2008

By Aldo Santin

A long-time member of the Manitoba Métis Federation said he was manoeuvred off the board of directors because of his criticisms of federation president David Chartrand.

Darrel Deslaurier said he was removed late last year after he was forced into bankruptcy by an MMF subsidiary, a lending institution called Louis Riel Capital Corp., over a $56,000 loan for a truck.

Deslaurier said that after he declared bankruptcy, MMF officials informed him that the Corporations Act prohibits anyone in bankruptcy from holding a seat on a corporation board. Chartrand said Deslaurier was a deadbeat who got what he deserved.

"This is just a vile attempt by Mr. Deslaurier to put a negative spin on the federation," Chartrand said. "He knew the rules, knew that if he declared bankruptcy he couldn't stay on the board. He wouldn't resign so he was removed."

Deslaurier said he had spent the previous several months questioning Chartrand, particularly over his handling of funds as health minister of the Métis National Council.

Deslaurier said he also opposed Chartrand's efforts to have Manitoba delegates support his candidate in the upcoming Métis National Council presidential election.

"I had been a member of the MMF for eight years and for all that time I believed I was part of a Métis government," Deslaurier said. "Then I found out I wasn't part of government -- I was on a corporation."

Deslaurier said he suspects that officials from the Louis Riel Capital Corp. manoeuvred him into a position of bankruptcy in a bid to silence his criticism of Chartrand. The Louis Riel Capital Corporation "went after my loan and I had no choice but to declare bankruptcy," Deslaurier said. "They had already taken my truck, emptied my bank account and my kids' trust accounts and were going after my house. I had to declare bankruptcy to save my house. Then I found out I was off the board."

Chartrand said the MMF and the Métis National Council have a good relationship with Ottawa and there are no issues over how either body is spending money given to it by the federal government.

Chartrand said Deslaurier had refused for several years to pay back his loan, adding the Louis Riel Capital Corp. seized his property to make good the debt.

Chartrand said that every candidate for the MMF board knows that they would be removed from their position if they fall into bankruptcy.

Deslaurier is still included as a director on the MMF website but Chartrand said a byelection will be held soon to replace him.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca


I find Mr. Chartrand’s comment about the relationship with MNC being portrayed as good. Wonder if he forgot all those Press Releases that indicated that Clem and him filed Statement of Claims against the MNC and the other Board of Governors. As for his relationship with Ottawa – the letter he received last week identifying that they are in default in the Health Contract and that Minister Strahl put out last October saying no more money – doesn’t sound so good to me. This was some interesting statements coming from a very angry bully.