Metis Nation of British Columbia Takes Leave of Absence

This Letter was posted on the Metis Nation of British Columbia today. The actual letter can be viewed at http://www.mnbc.ca/pdf/pr_news19_2.pdf.


Monday, March 3rd, 2008

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

Re: Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) Leave of Absence

Dear MNC President Chartier,

Please be advised that the MNBC Board of Directors met this past weekend with the majority of the Métis Chartered Community leaders in British Columbia to discuss the current Métis National Council (MNC) developments. MNBC discussed a number of items including the current MNC default of the Health Canada Agreement in January 2008.

MNBC leadership expressed serious concerns in regards to the Health Canada Agreement and specifically the Aboriginal Health Human Resource Initiative (AHHRI) and Aboriginal Health Transition Funds (AHTF). MNC signed the Health Canada Agreement in August 2006 on behalf of the Métis Nation Governing Members, including the MNBC. MNC utilized the Health Canada Agreement to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the MNBC on May 23rd, 2007.

Currently MNC has not met its payment schedule responsibilities identified in Clause 15 of the MoU to support the MNBC AHHRI or AHTF contributions. As a result MNC currently owes MNBC approximately $207 000.00 for this fiscal year and MNBC is seeking clarification to how MNC will address this serious issue. MNBC has fully committed the MNC MoU resources on specific investments including a number of Métis student health scholarships.

Based on these discussions the MNBC Board of Directors have unanimously decided to take an official leave of absence from the MNC Board of Governors and all MNC committee’s effective immediately. Therefore, MNBC would deem it inappropriate for MNC to speak on our behalf in any venue. As of this date, MNBC will be advising all key stakeholders of our intentions as we represent the interests of our Métis Chartered Communities and our Métis citizens.

MNBC will communicate further concerns in writing shortly to provide MNC an opportunity to discuss and address each individual item.

Thank you,

Bruce Dumont
President
Métis Nation British Columbia


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