Leadership review rejected

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A special resolution to have a review of the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) President's position was soundly defeated by assembly delegates who attended the 58th Annual MAA Assembly in Edmonton, March 14 and 15.

The resolution introduced by Ron Larocque, candidate in the upcoming MAA Zone Directors elections stated, "the president of the association shall be subject to a review of his or her leadership at each annual assembly of the association."

The resolution asks the eligible voters, "approve of and support the president's right to continue in office-Yes or No."

In order for the resolution to be passed, at least two-thirds of the eligible voters had to vote for a leadership review before consideration could be taken at the assembly.

After a heated debate on the question of leadership and whether there was a mechanism in place to review the president's position, the resolution was put to a vote and defeated.

In the discussion a number of people expressed their concern that the leadership review question was directly or indirectly questioning the present leadership of MAA President Sam Sinclair, Joanne Daniels, former vice-president of the Metis Association said, "If this resolution is being put forth to question Sam's leadership, then I will not stand in support of it. But if this resolution is being considered to enhance the president's position and make the position more accountable then I'll stand in support of it."

Vice-President of Zone 5, Paul Sinclair stated that, "we already have a review process in place and a process in place to remove the president if he/she is not doing a satisfactory job."

Sinclair explained that at any MAA Board of Directors meeting, the board can remove the president if, nine members of the Executive Board feel that the president is not doing his job.

MAA President Sam Sinclair says, "There was an indirect attack on my character through his attempt to pass this resolution. I didn't think it was necessary. My leadership has always been hard work and honesty and nobody can deny my work. And you also have to consider the personalities involved in trying to pass the resolution."

When contacted by Windspeaker Ron Larocque stated, "This resolution was not meant to challenge Mr. Sinclair's leadership. It's intention is to let the president know that he has to respond to the will of the people he serves. As far as personalities playing a role, the only personality involved is Mr. Sinclair's."

On final count the voting went 62 to 44 against the resolution.

Other highlights of the assembly included resolutions passed to recognize Metis women as equals in all matters concerning the Metis.

A resolution to allow four representatives from the Women of the Metis Nation to attend the First Ministers' Conference in Ottawa later this month, and to allow those women an equal vote within the Metis Association of Alberta's vote, was also passed.

Metis women from Little Buffalo, also had a resolution passed, giving them legal and resource support from the Metis Association. Up until now the women say they have not received the proper support of the association.

Another contentious issue at the assembly was the membership of Zone 3, delegate Freda Martel. Martel has been denied full membership to a Red Deer and Calgary Metis local, because members of the locals did not believe her to be a Metis.

A motion was brought to the Annual Assembly floor to decide whether Martel was to be accepted as being Metis. After a highly charged discussion period a vote to include Martel's membership was taken and a majority voted to accept her as a member.

Another issue which prompted some heated discussion was the Metis Urban Housing issue; the process of choosing candidates for residency in one of the Metis Urban Housing owned houses, and a mortgage agreement between Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Metis Urban Housing were in question.

At last count slightly over 300 delegates wre in attendance for the two-day assembly.