Metis National Assembly derailed

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The Ontario delegates came close to shutting down the Metis National Council's Annual Assembly, held Nov. 25 and 26 in Calgary. They complained that their province was not being fairly represented by the number of voting delegates they were allowed.

The Ontario complaint was supported by a threat to walk away from the conference table unless their demands were met. The issue monopolized much of the conference's first afternoon and following morning, leaving participants frustrated that they could not get beyond the voting issue to deal with the heavy agenda.

The voting formula, as agreed to at the last national assembly, saw Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta receive 15 votes each, while Ontario and British Columbia were given five votes each. This formula was based on the number of identified Metis members in each province. As Ontario and B.C. do not have as many members as the prairie provinces, they were given proportionately less voting strength.

Ontario Metis president Tony Belcourt said the formula failed to recognize Ontario's Metis population. He argued that the bylaw allowed for five voting delegates but did not set a maximum, so Ontario had a right to 15 delegates if it desired. Discussion ensued and, eventually, Ontario's demands were met, but not without leaving a bad taste in the mouths of many conference participants.

Other business at the conference included a speech to the assembly by Manitoba Lt.-Gov. Yvon Dumont, a Metis and past president of the Manitoba Metis Nation and the national Metis organization. Dumont praised the efforts of the council and reminded the delegates not to forget their mission to deal with matters that affect the lives of Metis people.

The council reported activity at the federal level on such matters as protecting Metis rights in the Constitution Act of Canada, enumeration of Metis people and the establishment of a Metis national registry. Other issues included literacy, community-based justice initiatives and youth programming.