RCMP investigating Metis Nation of Alberta

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The Metis Nation of Alberta is being investigated by the RCMP.

Bob Coulter, interim manager of the Alberta Metis Rural Housing Corporation, said the investigation arose from allegations of misuse of funds made against association president Gerald Thom by "disaffected" presidential candidates.

"He's being judged on (former-president) Larry Desmeules' record," Coulter said. "He inherited a horrible mess. That's not fair."

Three RCMP investigators from the Commercial Crimes division in Edmonton began their investigation Sept. 8, the day after the election.

Coulter, son of Metis Senator Thelma Chalifoux, said he was hired by Thom to examine the association's rural housing program and to co-ordinate the RCMP investigation.

In an interview with CFWE, the Native Perspective, Coulter said the RCMP often call on private individuals to help in police investigations when the force has too much work of its own to do.

RCMP officials in Edmonton refused to comment except to say they are investigating specific matters related to certain people at the MNA.

Several candidates, who Coulter would not name, have alleged that Thom took funds from the Metis National Council for his own personal use during his election campaign.

But Thom used the some MNC funds to fly to several remote communities in Alberta as the behest of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Commissioner, Coulter said.

Some MNA constituents in Cadotte Lake, 375 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, are living in what amount to shacks while others are living in homes with no furnaces, he said.