MNS Dispute Hurting Tory-MNC Relations

MNS Dispute Hurting Tory-MNC Relations

Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 14:33

 

 

The controversy surrounding the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan is straining the Metis National Council’s relations with the new Conservative government.

 

According to a briefing note sent to Provincial Metis Council members earlier this week, Federal Metis interlocutor Jim Prentice was scheduled to meet with MNC officials in Ottawa Monday night.

 

However, the meeting was delayed 90 minutes because Prentice apparently refused to participate in the gathering over the fact that MNS representatives were present.

 

His parliamentary secretary and four other government officials eventually joined the meeting, and scheduled another meeting where Prentice and MNC president Clem Chartier could talk about the MNS situation.

 

That was supposed to take place Tuesday, but an MNC spokesman says it might happen today.

 

One of the most outspoken critics of the current leadership of the MNS and MNC, Robert Doucette, says Prentice is doing the right thing.

 

Doucette also feels Prentice could go even further, and threaten to suspend funding to the MNC if it continues to support the disputed MNS leadership.

 

According to the briefing note, the MNC officials present at Monday’s meeting told Prentice’s people that the Metis will not have their political relationships “dictated” by government.