Metis zones could still grow

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The proposal to more than double the number of zones in the Metis Nation of Alberta (MNA) is still alive and well, says Zone 1 President Gary Bourque.

A resolution to increase the number of zones was defeated at the nation's annual assembly in Slave Lake on Aug. 8 and 9. That was just a temporary setback for the proposal, said Bourque, who feels that the membership really needs to have more zones.

"What the people said was that they needed more information," Bourque said. "They're for it but they need more answers."

The proposal to increase the number of electoral zones in the MNA from six to 14 will be back on the table at a special assembly next February, said Bourque.

The proposal to increase the electoral zones is part of changes in the election process, Bourque noted.

By the time the special assembly is held the MNA executive will have fine tuned their presentation to answer all the questions about increasing the number of zones, he added.

"The presentation wasn't strong enough for some of the questions asked on where the dollars were coming from and negotiating for funding," Bourque said.

The resolution to expand the number of zones was the only resolution at the Slave Lake assembly. Prior to bringing the resolution to the assembly the MNA executive toured the province with the proposal, where five of the six zones supported the proposal "big time," Bourque said. But those supporters did not show up at Slave Lake, the centre of the only zone that was not in favor of the proposal.

"If the assembly was held in Zone 1, where there is strong support, it would have passed," Bourque said.

The resolution, which required a 75 per cent majority vote to pass, was defeated with 120 people voting against it and 90 in favor.

The idea of expanding the number of zones grew out of a proposal from Fort McMurray to split Zone 1 to provide more effective representation within the large area.

The concerns from Fort McMurray were echoed across the province, and a task force was struck to review the number of electoral zones.