Metis National Council takes former president, Manitoba Metis to court
The Metis National Council has filed a lawsuit against its former president and the Manitoba Metis Federation alleging financial irregularities and questionable contracts.
President Cassidy Caron said there was a full review of the organization following her election last year.
"Almost immediately my eyes were opened to some, in my opinion, very concerning governance and financial practices and policies, or rather an apparent lack there of," Caron said in a video posted on the Metis National Council's social media Thursday.
A statement of claim, filed in the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario on Thursday, alleges the council's former leadership adopted a "scorched earth policy" upon their departure with a goal to create "severe financial and reputational" damage to the national council. It also alleges former leadership made deals to financially benefit themselves and others.
The national council is seeking $15 million in damages.
The lawsuit names Clement Chartier, who was president from 2003 until Caron's election last year, as well as the Manitoba Metis Federation and its president, David Chartrand, who served as vice-president of the national council under Chartier.
"There is no basis of fact of law in this. There's nothing. They just grabbed a big number out of the air," Chartrand said Friday in Winnipeg.
Chartrand called the lawsuit a vindictive attack in response to the Manitoba federation withdrawing from the national council on the eve of Caron's election.
Chartrand added the results of a two-year audit, done at the behest of the federal government, were released in 2020. Chartrand said the independent financial review couldn't substantiate allegations of financial mismanagement levied at that time.
The Metis National Council also includes provincial Metis organizations from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia. It was formed in 1983 to support the recognition and promotion of Metis people as a distinct cultural group with their own governments and needs.
Presidents of the Metis organizations in Saskatchewan and Alberta came out in support of the national council's move saying the allegations were distressing and transparency is needed.
"We cannot ignore what was found during an internal review. We are obligated to act," Glen McCallum, president of Metis Nation--Saskatchewan, said in a statement.
The lawsuit contains allegations that have not been proven in court.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.