Province Pitches Deal to End MNS Election Dispute

Province Pitches Deal to End MNS Election Dispute

Friday, November 04, 2005 at 15:58

The provincial government has announced a proposal it hopes will eventually settle the impasse involving the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan.

The province and Ottawa are willing to provide funding to hold a Metis Nation Legislative Assembly in order to facilitate a new MNS election, under certain conditions.

In return for the funding, which will be administered by a third party, the province wants several conditions met — including the calling of a general assembly of Metis people to ratify an election call from the MNLA, the use of a government-appointed chief electoral officer for a new election and the involvement of a government-chosen Metis Elections Advisory Committee.

Metis Relations Minister Maynard Sonntag believes this approach strikes the right balance between meeting the desires of grassroots Metis and satisfying terms of the MNS Constitution.

It’s not clear if the MNS executive will agree to the proposal.

The MNS has been brought to a virtual standstill because of suspended funding over last year’s controversial election.

Meanwhile, Sonntag says he’s been told an MNLA that was scheduled for November 16th in Meadow Lake has been postponed.