BC Brings an End to Why? Pay Attention - It is No Financial or Political Accountability Coming From Elected Leaders Clem and David

This was released today from the MNBC. They are on the top of their game and we will see if Clem even provides a response. It will be interesting. [Click on the image for a larger view.] The text reads as follows:

Clément Chartier
President
Métis National Council (MNC)
Suite 201, 350 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ont.
K1R 7S8

Re: Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) follow up to March 3rd, 2008 correspondence

Dear MNC President Chartier,

Please accept this MNBC correspondence as follow up to the MNBC letter dated Monday, March 3rd, 2008 sent to your attention. In the March 3rd, 2008 letter MNBC indicated that additional concerns would be provided in writing shortly to allow you as the MNC President an opportunity address and respond to MNBC issues in writing.

On March 3rd, 2008 MNBC communicated our serious concerns in relation to the Health Canada resources that support MNBC with the Aboriginal Health Human Resource Initiative and Aboriginal Health Transition Funds for 2007-2008. Presently March is the final month of the current fiscal year and MNBC has yet to receive any response to the financial responsibilities owed to the MNBC or its Métis students awaiting scholarships and bursaries. Therefore MNBC is seeking a formal response from you in writing to outline your proposed next steps as soon as possible.

In addition the MNBC Board of Directors is seeking your clarification to the following items:

MNBC remains concerned regarding the corporate stability and lack of transparency related to the financial affairs of the Métis National Council Secretariat Inc. MNBC raised considerable dissatisfaction with the 2006-2007 MNC Secretariat Inc. Financial Statements in November 2007 by submitting two official MNBC communications dated November 1st, 2007 and November 15th, 2007. MNBC did not receive full disclosure or transparency regarding the questions identified in the MNBC correspondences. The MNBC letters in November raised serious questions in relation to possible MNC overpayments. MNBC has been made aware of possible overpayments regarding MNC expenditures and there has been no clear answers or clarification from the MNC. As a non-founding member MNBC is requesting you as the President to clarify whether or not there are any overpayments regarding any of the funding administered by the MNC. MNBC is requesting a response in writing and if there are any overpayments, MNBC is seeking the clarification on the amounts in question and the Contributions Agreements affected.
MNC was officially placed in default by Health Canada in January 2008. What steps have you as the MNC President initiated to address the issues that have placed the MNC in default? Are you prepared to outline the issues in writing with the MNC Board of Governors that caused the default to occur? Please explain.
MNC currently has an outstanding list of payables in January 2008 that totaled approximately $3.1 million and very few of the MNC Contribution Agreements were signed for this fiscal year (2007-2008). What steps are you taking to address the outstanding payables? Please explain.
MNBC is unaware of MNC support or any strategy for the Post 2009 Métis Human Resource Development Agreement (MHRDA) program with Service Canada. The MHRDA is very important to the MNBC and the 1000 employment and training clients we serve each year. According to the 2006-2007 MNC Secretariat Inc. Financial Statements MNC utilized resources from Service Canada to support work in the area of employment and training. MNC typically utilized the annual allocation to organize the MHRDA technical working group that is composed of representatives from the Métis Nation Governing Members including the MNBC. There have been no demonstrable efforts made by the MNC this past year to support MNBC’s policy needs for Post 2009. The timeline to meaningfully negotiate MHRDA services delivered by the Métis Nation British Columbia is limited. Service Canada is developing a submission to cabinet regarding the Post 2009 process shortly. What steps are you as the President taking to address this very important file?
MNBC is very concerned about existing MNC Secretariat Inc. legal challenges. During the recent Métis National Council General Assembly you were elected the new leader. However, during your acceptance speech you did not clarify your position in relation to the current lawsuit that you have brought against the MNC itself last August 2007. As a non-founding member MNBC would like you to provide your position in relation to the current lawsuit. Are you still seeking alleged damages?
MNBC is also concerned that one of the Founding Members (Manitoba Métis Federation) was also involved in the legal action brought against the MNC Board of Governors last August. Has there been a request by MMF President Chartrand for reimbursement of legal costs to support your case?

MNBC is seeking your immediate attention to these important matters. MNBC is also still awaiting a response to the March 3rd, 2008 letter regarding Health Canada funding owed to MNBC as per our signed Memorandum of Understanding.

Thank you,

Bruce Dumont
President

cc Métis National Council Board of Governors
Métis Nation British Columbia Board of Directors
MNBC Métis Chartered Communities
MNBC Governance and Policy Committee’s
ADM Fred Caron, Office of the Federal Interlocutor
ADM Ian Potter, Health Canada
Parliamentary Secretary for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Office of the
Federal Interlocutor
Honourable Rob Bruinooge
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Honourable Chuck Strahl