Métis leader 'shocked' at judge's ruling

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) Vice-President Gerald Morin said Monday he's shocked at a recent decision by a Queen's Bench judge in Saskatoon.

Yesterday, Justice Brian Scherman ordered the MN-S to hold a legislative assembly on or before June 19th.

The issue of when the organization should hold an assembly has been a controversial one. A group called the Provincial Métis Council had originally set an assembly for September.

However, Aboriginal Affairs has frozen any funding to the organization until that assembly takes place. Last week, the MN-S offices were closed, and all remaining staff were laid off.

Justice Scherman worried September would be too long to wait, and ordered the MN-S to hold a meeting in June.

"Without funding MNS will not be able to deliver its programs, it will fail to carry out its constitutional mandate, it will default on its debts, and its public and political reputation and integrity will be irreparably damaged," wrote Justice Scherman in his decision.

However, Vice-President Morin believes the decision is undemocratic, and should be reversed.

"I'm shocked and appalled that a judge would intervene and the democratic process that takes place within the Métis Nation," said Morin. "Provincial Metis Council made the decision." 

Morin said his group still hasn't received financial documents from the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan. He said he doesn't think a meeting should take place before that happens.

"Having a quick, snap legislative assembly at the end of June, we're already in April, for the sake of having an MNLA, are not going to meet those other conditions," he said. "How are we going to ensure accountability and transparency?" 

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan President Robert Doucette said he believes the legislative assembly should take place as soon as possible, and instigated the court proceedings that led to the judge's decision.

Doucette will hold a news conference later this morning.