Métis Citizens Unanimously Approve New Election

April 23, 2007 SASKATOON SK – A Métis election is on the way!

This weekend, at the Métis Nation Legislative Assembly (MNLA) and General Assembly, Métis citizens from Saskatchewan voted unanimously to hold a 2007 general election across the province. The election will be run by independent Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) David Hamilton. An announcement of the election date is forthcoming but it will certainly be held within the next 6 months.“There is a heartbeat for a Nation”, said Marilyn Poitras, Chair of the Independent Oversight Committee which developed the election proposal. “There was a question of whether or not people wanted this organization to survive and clearly they do. There was optimism in the air, people were emotional, and it was quite a vision to witness the sea of yellow voter cards in the air as nearly 300 citizens declared their support for an independent election.”

Ron Lamabe of the Committee said that questions and calls in the weeks leading to the assembly resolved most of the contentious issues before they became problems, with all callers encouraged to come in and participate in the General Assembly. CEO David Hamilton stated, “We have a lot of work to do now to prepare, train and inform people so that citizens are well prepared. The voter registration process is new but people at the MNLA were very excited and supportive of it.”

Ten months of planning, redrafting, negotiations and many discussions resulted in broad agreement to hold an MNLA and General Assembly to discuss and approve the Independent Oversight Committee’s election proposal. Chaired by his Honor Judge Gerald Morin and Mr. Will Goodon from Manitoba, both meetings ran smoothly and even lightheartedly at times.

The members of the MNLA and GA were asked to vote on the election package including new election legislation, a suspension of any Constitutional provisions which contradicted the new Legislation, the appointment of David Hamilton as CEO and a requirement of the newly elected body to immediately take up Constitutional reform for the Métis Nation. Committee member Rita Bouvier thanked everyone who assisted in the development of the package, and all those who supported the work over the last several months.

For more information, please contact:

Janice Braden
Operations Director
Métis Election for Saskatchewan
(306) 934-4750
jbraden@metiselectionsk.ca