What's Up With APTN?

I have had an ongoing suspicion about some things I have seen on APTN National News as of late. Now the truth is – I am not sure how many people actually use this as a news source but often when I have checked I find that they are a biased, inaccurate and somewhat like the Aboriginal Enquirer. They like to report stories based on gossip, innuendo and without collaborating evidence. Who holds these publicly funded television stations accountable for the lack of investigative reporting that is required to validate a story? As is the case with this story:

The Métis National Council and the Métis Nation of Alberta has appeared quite one sided and without factual information to back up the presentations that are made. A couple of nights ago – APTN reported that Rick Boucher is innocent and is cleared from all allegations.

I had reported in an earlier post that the report I had from the courthouse on March 13, 2008 was that Justice Binder heard arguments and that vindication was not imminent until the matter was dealt with.

The case is based on Rick Boucher’s legal counsel identifying that Rick had an unfair, biased hearing before the Judiciary Council. The hearing is not about whether he is innocent or guilty. (We will try and access the public court records for the claim that has been put forward.) Justice Binder did listen to Rick’s legal counsel’s presentation about some new case law that had been recently handed down in relationship to what is reasonable and he did give each party the opportunity to present briefings on the new case law and the effect it will have on this case. He would not give Rick's legal counsel an adjournment like they requested. Rick’s counsel has until March 26, 2008 to present the briefings and the Judiciary Council’s and Métis Nation of Alberta’s legal counsel have until April 9, 2008 to respond with their own briefings. The decision will come down at some later date up to 3 months after that.

Now it is true no one can determine the outcome of the hearing – unless there is a very accurate Crystal Ball in Rick’s lawyer’s office – but to hear Rick Boucher and Ken Bourque tell the story – it is done. In fact, I have heard that there is a letter that was disseminated earlier this week indicating that Rick is going to sue the majority of the Provincial Council of the Métis Nation of Alberta for slander and maligning his name. We do have to remember though – they did go to court in late November or early December initially to file the complaint against the decision. They Judge put a hold on the case because there was no decision that had been rendered by the Judiciary Council. The Judge then advised the various parties that the Judiciary Council could release their decision and only then would Mr. Boucher have the opportunity to appeal or move forward on his complaint.

Today a Press Release was release by the Métis Nation of Alberta that does not speak to vindication – and funny thing is the courts work on the basis of actuals not crystal balls. So maybe going back to my first point – someone needs to keep APTN in on the current facts and leave the fairytales to Hollywood.



Press Release Attention News Editors
Conflict of Interest Case in the Hands of Provincial Judge



Edmonton, AB (March 20, 2008) – Audrey Poitras, President of the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA), confirmed today that the court decision respecting the conflict of interest charges against Rick Boucher has yet to be rendered, contrary to some claims being circulated in the community.



“The matter is now before a Provincial Court Judge and it would be premature for anyone to
predict how the judge will rule,” she said.



On December 18, 2007, the MNA Judiciary Council, the judicial arm of the MNA, found
Boucher in conflict of interest for using a company he owned to sign an agreement with the Métis National Council regarding certain Health Canada funding, when, as a member of MNA Provincial Council, he had earlier voted in favour of a motion for the MNA to pursue a direct
bilateral agreement with Health Canada for the same funding.



Boucher contested the Judiciary Council decision in Provincial Court and Justice Binder heard the case on March 14, 2008. The judge will issue his decision within the next three months. “There are many issues at stake in this court action,” President Poitras said. “Not least of which is the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Council.”



“Throughout this process, Mr. Boucher and his lawyers used every technicality argument they could possibly think of to undermine the powers and authority of the Judiciary Council and to escape prosecution.”



“During the course of the hearing on March 13th, they raised certain technical issues around the wording of the Conflict of Interest provisions of the MNA By-Laws, and Mr. Boucher now claims that our lawyer conceded that he was not in conflict of interest. This is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. We continue to maintain Mr. Boucher’s conduct amounts to a conflict of interest and was gravely detrimental to the interests of the MNA and this was made clear at the hearing.”



President Poitras hopes ultimately justice will be served and the authority of the MNA Judiciary
Council will be upheld.



“The MNA must and will abide by the law,” she said. “And now we must all wait on how the
judge will rule in this important case before any side can claim victory.”






For additional information contact:
Monique Devlin
MNA Communications
Ph: (780) 455-2200