Metis activist questions MAA's termination of audit

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Cancelled audit sparks confrontaion

During the Meytis Association of Alberta's (MAA) wrap-up panel question and answer period March 25, the inevitable political confrontation between Metis leaders, Sam Sinclair, president of the Metis Association of Alberta and Joe Blyan, president of Metis Local 97 and past candidate for the MAA's presidency, was staged on the last day of the Urban Metis Local seminar.

The spark that ignited the political confrontation were the questions put forth by Joe Blyan, seeking answers as to why the Special Audit Committee struck on December 17 and 18 at an MAA board meeting, authorized to do an independent audit that would itemize the expenditures of the association, was abruptly called off on January 7, 1984 with the board motion rescinding the previous motion.

The questions directed at the panel guests consisting of Sam Sinclair, MAA president; Jo Ann Daniels, MAA vice-president; and board members Ben Courtoreille, Russell White, Rod Chalifoux, and Gord Sinclair carried innuendos of abusing and misusing core funding and government funds for programs.

Blyan, who initiated the questioning on the special audit committee members said, "they did their work as best they could (four visits to the MAA office by the audit team), produced a report, and then were dismissed. Their work would, if carried to conclusion, provide solid examples of policy we should adopt to properly expend our organization's money.

"But they were stopped just when they started, the board committee of ben Courtoreille, Paul Sinclair and Russell White should explain why they, as board members put in charge of the Special Audit, later agreed to whitewash the matter and protect those who abuse MAA funds," said Blyan, reading a prepared text.

Blyan accused Sinclair of running a "one-man operation" with his constant "overrule the board" tactics and said, "do you have something in there you don't want us to see?"

Sinclair, taking the political slings as being "very personal" rebuked the accusations of running a one man operation and the rumors of covering up the hidden expenditures of the board and the executive.

"There's nothing wrong with making a motion on the board level to be used as directives. That's collective thinking, that's part of the action.

"There's nothing to hide, the people doing the books are professional people who will not falsify records. They have to follow a code of ethics and this special audit called for was expensive," said Sinclair.

The MAA president stated that these special audits are unnecessary costs to the association and there must be "special funds" made available to carry out this type of audit.

Blyan retorted that he was "not satisfied" with the whole process as to why the special audit was called off and totally unsatisfied with the direction the MAA office has taken.

"Being president of Local 97, I am expressing their concerns, the urban board passed a directive to have this audit done and it was presented to some MAA board members and a motion was passed by the MAA board.

"This fact-finding directive was to find out the method of spending government funds and when I requested minutes of the January 7 board meeting, all I received was the motion stating that the previous motion was rescinded. I am not satisfied!" remarked Blyan.

MAA vice-president Jo Ann Daniels stated why she voted against the first motion at the January 7 board meeting and she questioned the method of procedure implemented by the Special Audit Committee.

Daniels said the Special Audit Committee members were on a "witch hunt" and "conduct of the committee was questionable."

"There was no clear directives as to how the investigation was to be conducted. The whole method of handling the audit procedure was questionable. The committee members were overstepping jurisdictional powers and I assess it as a take over.

"The short audit produced no evidence of misdemeanors. Besides, the expenses incurred by the comittee members were costly," said Daniels.

Metis members addressing the panel indicated that this special audit, if concluded, would have cleared any suspicious about irregularities within the MAA.

After hearing arguments for an against the Special Audit Committee and its investigation, many Metis delegates said the MAA board and executive" better start listening to the local Metis members and their directives."