MAA plans annual general meeting for November

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CALGARY - The Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) will be holding its annual general assembly in November, but President Sam Sinclair isn't saying if he'll call for a new mandate after recent financial difficulties.

The financial difficulties arose after the MAA spent an estimated $73,000 of its core funds on its MAA Housing Department which administers Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) repair, rural and Native housing programs.

This overspending led to the cancellation of the MAA assembly scheduled for August in Athabasca. An election for six board members was also postponed.

In an interview after the Metis National Council convention in Calgary last week, Sinclair said he had considered calling for an election but no firm decision had been made. "I realize there will be a lot of discussions over the financial problem and some people will be calling for a new mandate, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," he said.

Sinclair added that no firm date or venue had been decided on for the annual assembly but pointed out that no matter what, if will be somewhere warm and easily accessible for those members travelling from the northern regions.

"We'll be announcing it later this week for sure," said Sinclair, adding that it will probably be during the early part of November.

Shortly after the financial problems of the MAA Housing Department were disclosed earlier this year, members of the MAA executive undertook a vote of non-confidence which Sinclair narrowly won. However, MAA sources say there is a definite move to vote for an immediate general election to thoroughly dispense with the financial question once and for all.