NEDP questioned

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CALGARY - The Native Economic Development Program (NEDP) has a "mental block" when it comes to Metis people, charged the president of the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) during the final day of the Metis National Council (MNC) convention held in Calgary last week.

Several other delegates joined the discussions, adding their gripes about the federally funded program which was set up in 1983 to help fund economic ventures for all Native people.

"People like Muriel Stanley-Venne were asked to resign just because she spoke her mind, and it is a struggle for those (NEDP) board members to accept Metis people onto the board," said Sam Sinclair.

Sinclair added that Ron Rivard, member of the MNC Constitutional Committee, had recently been appointed to the NEDP and that he had a lot of faith in his ability. He added, however, that in many respects Metis people found themselves running against a brick wall at the NEDP.

Working Committee Chairman Wayne McKenzie agreed with Sinclair, declaring that the Liberal Party had set up the program but now the board members had all been replaced by Progressive Conservatives.

"The only way to make any changes is for us to make a lot of noise. Every proposal that has gone to the board is witch hunted to death. There should be an investigation of the NEDP," he added.

Mark Leclare, another committee member, agreed with McKenzie and asked delegates to give the committee a mandate to investigate the workings of the NEDP.

In an interview after the meeting. Sinclair said that the MAA will be keeping a close eye on the NEDP and that the possibility of a MNC investigation was certainly not out of the question.