One less candidate in MNA elections

Dean Lindsay may have been shut out from the nomination process but he hasn’t been shut down by the Métis Nation of Alberta.

“The more I do, it seems the bigger the wall is,” said Lindsay, who claimed the nomination process was unfairly skewed so his name would not appear on the ballot. “They think I’m done, they’re wrong.”

Lindsay intended to challenge Bev New as president of Region 5 (Slave Lake area). Instead, voters only had two choices and they returned New as president by a vote of 104 to 92 over Kim Courtoreille on Sept. 6, election night.

“We thought I was in,” said Lindsay.

Lindsay said his nomination package was returned to him claiming that it was late in being received and that he did not have enough signatures from electors. He said both those claims are invalid.

Lindsay said the letter he received in his nomination package stated the deadline to have his papers to the Office of the Chief Elector was July 29. The rejection letter he received stated the papers had arrived July 29 and that the deadline for nominations was July 25. July 25 is the date stated on the MNA website.

“I met their deadline. They should not have been able to refuse me,” said Lindsay.

The second claim, that the 85 signatories Lindsay had on his papers weren’t enough, was also bogus, he said.
According to Sect 6.6 of the MNA bylaws anyone running for the regional positions of president or vice-president needs to have 75 signatures. Only those vying for the positions of provincial president or vice-president are required to have 150 signatures.

“I had more than enough (signatures),” said Lindsay. “I had 85 and more than half of my signatures were citizens. I wanted to try and get as many citizens as possible so it would be harder for them to say no to me.”
Lindsay noted that Courtoreille and New each had 75 signatures in their nomination papers. Lindsay also said that Courtoreille expressed surprise when told that 150 signatures were required for Lindsay’s package.

Had Lindsay won the election, he said he was going to seek a position on the Métis National Council.

“It’s a lot safer for them to keep me out of the National Council because that’s the seat I was going for.  That to me is their biggest fear. If I get in there and have my voice speaking across the country I would definitely find a following and we would definitely turn this (historical Métis citizen requirement) around,” said Lindsay.

Lindsay, who has been vocally fighting against the citizenship registry, said his next step will be to go to the provincial government and ensure that the MNA is funded  only by the numbers on the citizenship registry, which reflects about one-third of the MNA membership.
This election allowed members, those who hold red and white cards, to vote along with citizens. Advanced polling took place Aug. 27, with the general election held Sept. 6.

Sheila Genaille, Chief Electoral Officer, refused a telephone interview with Sweetgrass and in an email interview responded only in generalizations to questions. She refused to comment on why Lindsay’s nomination package wasn’t accepted and wouldn’t comment on whether he was the only nominee turned down.

Unofficial election results had Audrey Poitras returned as president with a healthy 1,402 votes to her opponent Donald McCargar’s 678. In almost every region, Poitras more than doubled McCargar’s count. The only region Poitras was defeated in was in Slave Lake, where McCargar edged her out 98-92 votes. Lindsay is a strong critic of Poitras and her push for citizenship.

The position of provincial vice president went to Toby Racette with 992 votes over Sharon Pasula who garnered 955 votes.