MNS Election Status Still Uncertain

MNS Election Status Still Uncertain

Friday, December 08, 2006 at 16:19

The head of a committee that is exploring the prospects for a new Metis Nation of Saskatchewan election says she is open to holding a legislative assembly first.

Marilyn Poitras is the chairperson of the Independent Oversight Committee, a group created by the provincial government to help broker a new election process.

Poitras says she considers holding an MNLA a distinct possibility, but at the same time, she insists her group needs to receive a mandate from the Metis people first.

Yesterday, interim MNS President Guy Bouvier said an MNLA would need to happen before any vote could take place. However, he also said that a general assembly and MNLA could take place at roughly the same time.

Meantime, an official with the province’s Department of First Nations and Metis Relations says the government is hoping the two sides can somehow agree.

Deputy Minister Nora Sanders says the government doesn’t want to wait until 2008, when a new election would happen anyway.

Sanders says her government is committed to working with the Metis who are democratically elected.