MNS Blames Funding Freeze for Layoffs

MNS Blames Funding Freeze for Layoffs

Monday, July 05, 2004 at 13:22

 

 

A funding freeze by the provincial government has forced the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan to lay off 8 staff members.

 

MNS president-elect Dwayne Roth says the organization had no choice but to issue the layoff notices after the province chose to withhold 400-thousand dollars in funding.

 

Roth also says a number of MNS initiatives will feel the pinch, including the annual Back to Batoche celebration.

 

The government suspended the funding last month over concerns it had with the recent Metis election.

 

It’s alleged some Metis people were denied the right to vote.

 

There are also allegations of ballot box stuffing and tampering.

 

Roth says the province has requested observer status at the Metis Election Commission’s appeal hearings in early August — a request Roth says he has forwarded to the commission.

 

Based on the province’s request, Roth expects it will be mid-August at the earliest before the provincial funding is restored.