Saturday, February 23, 2008

MNC – Never a dull moment

The Métis National Council Assembly is quite a process and some of our new delegates have had their eyes open to the Ole Boys Club brand of politics.

The candidates nominated were:

Tony Belcourt
Clem Chartier
Bruce Dumont
Rick Laliberte

There were deals being cut and promises being made. There were old politicians and new green horns. I have been told that there were jobs promised, contracts made and issues unresolved.

Doucette and Poitras reported that Clem Chartier was being paid a handsome salary, $10,000 a year in apartment rent, $129 a day in meal allowance and 217 nights at $200/night in hotel costs. A rough tally would have our president paid at $86,000 per year in non-taxable benefits over his salary. There are letters from early last summer that were disclosed that identify many dollars in overpayments including David’s wife Glorian – these overpayments are to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Auditor Bernie Shore advised that he did not see the letters until just prior to the meeting even though the dates on the letters were from June or July.

The finances reported a 3.5 million dollar deficit with the bills still coming in, no staff and no commitment for government bailouts.

Oh yea – not to forget Clem also has a $300,000 lawsuit against the Métis National Council that he can now potentially pay himself – if he can find any money and he can put forward for back pay and expenses since October when he was no longer paid as the President. He calls these his damages.

He does not have to call a Board of Governor meeting for the next three years while he is President elect and he can continue to run the place into the ground. Now based on the unresolved issues – how will he make those job and contract commitments? – it should all be interesting and when will the promises be collected?

His campaign speech was about getting Paul Martin elected as the Liberal leader, a Powley decison that happened prior to his leadership and how good he is at writing Prime Minister Harper a letter that had five points in it some two or three years ago. He promised he will now do a follow up to the letter from then. Sounds like we are well on our way to an outstanding National Leader. Hope you are all feeling hopeful.

There is a star at the end of this tunnel – it is time for a real Métis Nation of Canada – with a constitution, a democracy and real leaders who are supported by the grassroots Métis people. Let the existing Board of Governors clean up the mess they have created and the rest of us can work to build a nation – at home in the Métis homeland – with real Métis values - where it belongs.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hear, Hear…a real Métis Nation of Canada, with fair and equal representation from across the homeland. Sign me up!

Anonymous said...

Well, well, well…Clem got in, eh? That ought to give Trevor Gladue whiplash trying to kiss Clem’s ass and David Chartrand’s at the same time. Wouldn’t want to play favorites now would we? Won’t one of you adopt him?

Anonymous said...

Kitaapwaan!!!metismama just when my heart was sinking fast. sign me on too!!
aen michif

Anonymous said...

CAP is where the action is and real accountable and transparent leadership. I spoke to Patrick Brazeau for almost an hour the other day and he is the real deal. He will tell you how much he makes per years, how much CAP receives per year and where every penny goes.

Anonymous said...

Dear MetisMama,

Hope you don't mind but shortly we will be reproducing your latest article on www.CyberSmokeBlog.blogspot.com.

Regards,
Clare L. Pieuk

Anonymous said...

Hi Metis Mama
It,s Rene Proulx Again if
member,s want a Ballot vote
on next M N C election for
President. They have to put a
motion on the floor at
community meeting and get it pass
i have my motion pass already
and guess who belong,s to the
same community But i don,t care
the motion is passed
Let,s try and get as many comm.
on board as we can then shipp
to Clem in Ottawa
We Metis want a vote on M N C
Not just a prefered few like
pres. and governor,s. I say B S
to that we are in 20008 not

1878 Hope you can get some thing
going

UN VYEU MECHIF FIERE RENE PROULX

Anonymous said...

What’s that old adage about people getting the leaders they deserve? I think the people in Manitoba, Alberta (and I am guessing Saskatchewan) who had “leaders” who voted in Clem this weekend pick up the phone, get on the computer and send them a message or just ask them, why?

Anonymous said...

Chartier said he campaigned on a promise to set past conflicts aside. Current MNS president Robert Doucette was one of the national council's board members who voted to remove Chartier and bring in Dumont. When asked who he supported at this weekend's election, he said it "doesn't matter" -- Chartier won, and the MNC must set aside its differences.

"At the end of the day, we're not working for politicians. We're working for people," Doucette said.

However, Doucette said he'll be pushing for changes to the way the MNC president is elected. A system of delegates casting votes is outdated, he said, and technology is available to give all Metis people the chance to vote for their national president. He also wants the MNC to adopt a rule that no president can serve more than two consecutive terms.

"We have a lot of gifted people out there who can do a lot of great things for Metis people," he said.

This comment from Doucette in a News article is one of the most intelligent things I have ever heard coming from a Metis Representative. As part of the Grassroot community, WE support Mr. Doucette in this endevour.

News story: Star Phoenix
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=8f7bac93-40cd-40f1-bb1c-1ec6e801debc

Anonymous said...

From an outsiders view, it looks and sounds like a bunch of monkeys eating some powerful mushrooms and smoking some potent weed. How can I get some before this monkey party ends?
I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would say I was ashamed to be Metis. I am ashamed. First it was the Non-aboriginals that tried to make us feel ashamed of our ancestry and they failed. Now our own leaders have succeed to shame us for a pocket full of change.
I think I will sign up with the Polaks next year........