Panel created to consult with Metis on MNS election issues

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For the first time in months the provincial government and the leadership of the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan (MNS) seem to be in agreement.

The two parties have been at odds since June when the provincial government froze its funding to the MNS after a large number of complaints were received by the government about the way the Metis organization ran its provincial elections the previous month.

The rift between the MNS and the government widened further in July when the province commissioned former provincial chief electoral officer Keith Lampard to conduct a review of the election. The findings of that review were released in November with Lampard concluding that enough irregularities occurred during the election to put its results into question.

The MNS, under the leadership of Dwayne Roth, who won the race for president during the oft-questioned election, has come out against any efforts on the part of the provincial government to attempt to address the shortcomings of the MNS election process. The organization refused to co-operate with Lampard during his inquiry, with Roth calling the entire process a "witch hunt" and a "one-sided account based on hearsay."

But Roth has come out in support of the latest initiative of the Ministry of First Nations and Metis Relations-a six-person panel that will hold public meetings across the province to consult with Metis people on ways to improve the electoral process.

First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Maynard Sonntag announced the creation of the consultation panel on Dec. 22. The group will be chaired by Maria Campbell, renowned Metis author, playwright, film-maker and teacher.

Other members include three others of Metis descent-Joe Daigneault, regional director of Northlands College Western Region, businessman and author Ron Rivard and Donna Heimbecker, co-founder and general manager of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company.

Rounding out the panel are Roger Maaka, head of the department of Native Studies at the University of Saskatchewan and Joe Garcea, associate professor in the department of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

"The Sonntag commission may lead to positive recommendations," Roth said in a press release. "There are some really good people on it and I welcome positive input into our elections process from our citizens. I encourage Metis people to attend and provide constructive recommendations that are respectful of Metis governance."

He added that the MNS is under no obligation to abide by any recommendations coming out of the consultation process, but that the organization's law-making body, the Metis Nation Legislative Assembly, could review them and decide if any changes to the MNS election act are warranted.

The panel will hold a public meeting in each of the 12 MNS regions as well as in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Following the consultation process, the panel is expected to report back to government on how the province could assist Saskatchewan's Metis people to develop an independent Metis registry and reform the electoral process. That report is expected by the end of April.

"We have six outstanding individuals making up the consulation panel," said Sonntag. "I am confident the panel will represent the interests of the Metis people when they report back."