We are almost a week away and now the election for the Métis National Council is heating up. Clem Chartier is calling the delegates for the upcoming election and fear mongering. He is trying to slight Tony Belcourt’s support and trying to indicate that he is a pan-Aboriginal man not a Métis leader. Now it is true, he was the founding President of the Native Council of Canada but let’s consider that we are talking about a time in our history when all Métis were represented by that body.
He worked to push for the issues that resulted in Métis being included in the Constitution in 1982 and has been a very successful leader for the past three decades. Tony has represented us on many issues related to the United Nations and has been the founding instrumental leader who has had Métis recognized in Ontario. Tony has held the course even when his views were not always the most popular views of the other leaders. He does lobby hard to represent the Métis people of Ontario and to ensure that they are not what Clem often refers to as the “bookend”.
Tony comes from a traditional, proud Métis family - which have been very active members of the community. He was born in the historic Métis community of Lac St. Anne and has dedicated his life to the advancement of the Métis cause like many in his family. In fact, the Belcourt family has been what many would term as a very successful Métis family who have never forgotten their roots and have, in spite of their personal successes, contributed freely back to their community.
Now as for Clem Chartier’s leaderahip. He was unanimously put in as leader of the Métis National Council in 2003 – shortly after the release of the Powley decision. The Métis National Council and the Board of Governors were working hard on the Métis agenda and moving forward with government negotiations. The Board of Governors was cohesive and working towards a united agenda. Within a relatively short period of time – under his leadership – we have an organization that did not have a Board of Governors meeting in many months prior to his demise. Clem was a leader who – did campaign on bringing a constitution to the Métis National Council - we notice that there is no movement towards that. Instead he supported continued divisiveness on the BOG and many times was not present at the various public events, negotiations and consultations that were necessary to move the Métis agenda forward.
Clem would send one of the other Board of Governors to represent MNC- but mostly David Chartrand. Clem would not move to Ottawa to take up his role and be an active leader. The Métis National Council has had to pay his hotel room since 2003 until October last year – because he continued to say he resided in Buffalo Narrows. Even when you consider the financial burden on the Métis National Council in paying monthly hotel bills at the Albert at Bay in Ottawa and the travel expenditures that are incurred to transport the National President back and forth between Buffalo Narrows – how can we frankly afford him as our leader.
Clem is a respected Métis rights lawyer who has been instrumental in many precedent setting cases. He has an intuitive quality that has represented Métis well in the courts across Canada – but a good lawyer does not make a good political leader. I believe that there is a role for Mr. Chartier in the Métis Nation but not as the President of the Métis National Council.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
MNC’S ELECTION IS BEGINNING TO HEAT UP
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In 1972 Clem was President of the National Metis Youth Association. It went under, under his leadership. In 1983, Clem was Chairman of the Metis National Council Secretariat, he was removed before the end of his term. He later became the President of the World Council of Indigenous People, he was removed before the end of his term. Then he became President of the Metis Society of Saskachewan, ask the Saskachewan delegates about that mess. Now he is the President of the Metis National Council. Look at that mess. Do we really want him back. I hope not.
So let me get this straight - Clem had a job in Ottawa - but refused to live there, and instead collected travel expenses the whole time? Everyone knows that "travel expenses" can add up pretty high - so we where paying for his hotel, were we paying for meals too? All on top of his salarie? wow, what kind of budget does MNC have to allow for that?
Yes - I am telling you - hotel room, meals, travel miles, air fare, taxi receipts - unbelievable expenses from 2003 until October 2007 plus a very healthy salary and benefit program. So how many of you might like to have your rent paid over and above your income?
I am sorry, but WTF? are we stupid or is he just that good that he deserves that much compensation? That is a lot of money that could have been going to better things (like our Veterens, or maybe to pay some kind of compisation to the board members of provinces who don't have saleries). Is this what they were using the health money for?
Hey not only do they get these perks, but they use their own frequent flyer cards and credit cards and rack up the points for other free things - you know what ever the cards give you for free when you acquire points. Use their own cars -rack up the points - and in the end of the month hand in the receipts and have their cards payed off - keeping all the points and air miles for themselves. What a way to live. I guess Clem must have been making a lot of money if he filed a suit to reclaim over $300,000 in lost wages.
I think we are Bureacracy'd to death. Why do we need the MNC, another level of government eating up funds that could be going to Youth, elders, create employment.
How many times have I been told there is NO MONEY when we were trying to go to school, and get an education.
I know why now, it is all eaten up by the various levels of Metis government. Here we are at the Grassroots level, and we are watching everyone else get rich. We need reform, and first it has to start with the way the nation runs!
I hear we get more votes now in the west. Before they thought we didn't exist in the West, and only in Manitoba, sask ...
WHO Exactly are the Candidates????
Why do we at the Grassroots level KNOW nothing!!!!
Shouldn't our Provincial governments be informing us to WHOM are the Candidates????
The only candidate that has openly declared their candidacy is Tony Belcourt. He has a website that can be accessed through the Métis Nation of Ontario website.
The only other candidates are rumors at this point and they are Clem Chartier and Rick Laliberte from Saskatchewan. There have been no others making any indication that they will be running next weekend.
Hi Metis Mama
On m n bc web site monthly
UPDATE,S Bruce Dumont say,s
That he will seek nomination
For M N C president
From the rumors I have heard - Bruce Dumont has decided to withdraw in favor of supporting Mr. Belcourt’s bid for President. The website may need to be updated.
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