MNS Senators Call Election “Void”, “Illegal”
Friday, March 31, 2006 at 14:30
More details are emerging about why three Metis Nation of Saskatchewan senators were recently dismissed.
Gilbert Pelletier, John Boucher and Joe Perrault made up the Metis Elections Commission that oversaw the controversial MNS election in 2004.
Minutes of the February 15th Senate meeting in which they were turfed indicate the Senate never received a report on the election process, results and appeals — as is required by the MNS Senate Act.
The minutes go on to say that “the void or illegal election of 2004 has resulted in no Metis leadership in Saskatchewan for the last two years”, and that “accountability and responsibility issues to the MNS membership remain unresolved”.
Disputed MNS president Dwayne Roth says he hasn’t been able to reach Senate chair Nora Cummings, despite leaving several phone messages — but he admits being surprised with the tone of those comments.
Roth also calls her a long-time supporter of his.
Cummings took over as Senate chair at the February meeting, and in a letter issued to provincial Metis leaders recently, she stated the three senators were removed because the Senate’s credibility was at stake.