It appears the Metis Nation – Saskatchewan’s desire to have provincial funding for its September election is going to be rejected.
The last MN-S election in 2007 received funding from the previous NDP government. The money was used to help pay for an independent oversight commitee after the controversial Metis election in 2004.
But First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Jim Reiter doesn’t see the province putting any money towards this year’s Metis election:
“You know, I don’t see that position changing. Certainly, we look forward to their elections being held — but we don’t see that as appropriate for the province to be funding that.”
MN-S President Robert Doucette is still hopeful the federal government will provide funding:
“I really believe that there will be federal funding coming through. We have to get some confirmation from Elections Saskatchewan that they’re working with the Metis Nation – Saskatchewan — and we’re actually working with them right now. And I’m very confident that the federal government will work with us as partners in this election.”
The Metis election was originally scheduled to happen in late May, but it was postponed to September 8th after a judge ruled the validity of the previously scheduled vote could be challenged in court.
The accounting firm MNP has been hired to oversee the coming election.