The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs is confirming that if a current divide in the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan continues, it will have no further federal money after March 31.
The interim funding agreement between Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) is the first flow of federal cash to the MN-S since former minister Bernard Valcourt cut off funding in late 2014.
But if the MN-S wants to unlock the next phase of funding, its executive body (called the Provincial Metis Council) needs to pass a unanimous resolution. All PMC members must agree on when and where to hold their long-awaited Metis Nation Legislative Assembly (MNLA). This condition was agreed to by MN-S members in mid-February.
At a PMC meeting earlier this month, President Robert Doucette and two supporters did not agree with the proposed Yorkton location. Instead, they want to host the MNLA in Saskatoon. The dates of July 30 and 31 for the MNLA and a resolution to recommend Sept. 3 for the MN-S election were agreed upon.
An e-mail from INAC says “departmental officials are working closely with leadership of the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan” to resolve its internal issues.
Ernst and Young is managing the financial activities of the MN-S at present.
They received $200,000 to hold three PMC meetings, sefeguard the MN-S’s assets, and protect the Metis citizen registry.
Ernst and Young has also provided the MN-S executive with estimates of the organization’s current financial position. These preliminary estimates show that the MN-S has about $725,000 in liabilities.