A judge in Saskatoon has dismissed an application by two Metis men that would have given the court’s endorsement to the calling of this spring’s Metis Nation – Saskatchewan election.
Queen’s Bench Justice P. Foley rejected the legal application of Robert McLeod and Ronald Lamabe.
In a two-page decision, the judge writes that no respondents had been named to the application — and it was a motion on notice in name alone.
The judge also writes the affidavits that were filed show a potential for numerous interested parties in the case, including both levels of government.
One of those interested parties is Ray Laliberte who is running to be president of the MN-S.
He says he agrees with the judge’s decision:
“In this case they did not get anybody involved; in the respondents. There (were) a lot of impacted people across Saskatchewan and they had to be served notice.”
The president of the MNS, Robert Doucette, was said to be in meetings this afternoon and not available for comment.
The chief electoral officer for the election, Annette Yarmovich, says she hasn’t seen the ruling and is still proceeding with plans to hold the vote on May 30th.
Meantime, the provincial government is reserving a decision, for now, on whether or not to provide any funds for the vote.
Officials at the Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs in Ottawa say they are also still formulating a response to the situation.