MAA accuses province of stalling on funds

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Sam Sinclair feels the provincial government has been stalling a proposal given to them in November of 1985, regarding the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) regional council concept, and funding for it.

At a meeting at the Legislature Building in Edmonton April 25 with Minister of Native Affairs Milt Pahl, Sinclair, president of the MAA, commented that although $225,000 has been allocated to the MAA (same as last year) and $50,000 of that was accepted at the meeting, it is still not the answer.

The purpose of the meeting with Pahl was the concern for the regional (Metis) offices of the six Metis zones in Alberta, to see if they would receive proper funding and "we have no promise of being funded fully," said Sinclair.

Sinclair stated that the $50,000 was accepted at the meeting on the basis that the "doors be left open" for further negotiations for the remainder.

Sinclair also said that funding for the regional council concept could have been taken care of in November.

"This meeting should have been held last November. We should have been negotiating then, and it is no fault of ours. Our proposal was ready at that time and we were being stalled, although they had said they would look at the proposal," commented Sinclair, while mentioning that MAA regional vice-presidents had done their homework, such as seeking out support from their MLAs in their region, regarding the regional council concept.

"We did our homework, and even though there was a good response at the meeting on the possibility of having further negotiations for monies, if it would have been done properly as we recommended last November, then it could have been in the budget, passed and we would have been home free as far as the regional concept goes."

Sinclair expects to meet again sometime in May with the provincial government and believes it will be after the provincial elections take place.

"We are looking forward to receiving funding properly so we can do our job properly, the way we promised our people we would."

One other topic that was discussed at the meeting with Pahl, was the deficit created by the first-time ballot box election system, held last year by the Metis.

"We touched on our deficit, and it will be looked into. It is no surprise to them because they were forewarned.

"Our deficit was based on the democratic process of our ballot box system, which was a first. I think it was a fair election which we will continue in the future, but we need resources to fulfill those needs related to the system," said Sinclair.

According to Sinclair, no promise was made on anything by Pahl, but at a meeting three days earlier, Alberta Premier Don Getty assured Sinclair that the government under Getty is serious in taking a look at the MAA approach.

"We are looking at close to one million (dollars) for the regional offices, and we are willing to negotiate if they want to cut us, but it is important that we are funded properly. I think this government is serious in looking at services that are lacking for our people."

Sinclair stated that the one thing the MAA does not want to do is go through the motion, and that "every region has done their job putting it together. Some have asked for more than others because there are more people in some areas than others and we want to work according to our population," said Sinclair on the regional council concept.

Sinclair says that the MAA will not wait until the "hopeful" meeting in May and will continue to do their homework.

"We will be talking with high profile ministers and I have been instructed today to talk with Getty and I am willing to do that, possibly through one of his forums during his campaign."

Although Sinclair seemed assured by the Progressive Conservative government under Getty, he said that there are still questions that must be asked.

"We want to know about the seriousness of our constitutional position. Does this government support our long-range thinking on self-determinato, and are they serious in wanting to deal with us at that level? If they are, I don't see why they should not fund us now and start working towards it."

Sinclair added that the MAA has received funding for the Constitution, for the sum of $50,000 but believes that this is just a piecemeal approach.

"These regions are working towards self-determination and someday we want to have a full say on what happened to our people. Right now, we are only taking part of the workload of the programs that are out there, which most of the time are lacking in some areas of responsibility that is not carried out properly for our people," concluded Sinclair.