MUH office move questioned

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The recent move of Metis Urban Housing (MUH) into the office of the Zone 3 Metis Association office has caused a rift within the Zone's council chambers, as well as the threat of resignation by MUH's Calgary chairman, Edith Thompson.

The move by MUH became necessary when Peter Pelletier assumed position of Zone 3 vice-president in early September. MUH, which he then managed, was located at that time in his home.

"MUH was moved into this office after council decided to keep it separate," said Local 14 president Theresa Arsenau at the Oct. 31 Zone 3 Regional Council meeting. "Peter, you agreed politics and business should not be mixed," she added.

"I agree this is not the best place for MUH but I made the offer to let them move in before we discussed it," said Pelletier. "And they are staying here, only until their new budget comes through and they can afford to move."

"I hate to say this, but you're telling stories again," responded Thompson to Pelletier. "I have a letter right here. You re-made that offer after you stated MUH should be kept separate," she said.

Pelletier argued that with MUH's limited budget, his offer of an office for $250 a month, was the best immediate solution for MUH's move.

"A decision had to be made for the betterment of the association," said Pelletier. "I discussed it with the Metis Association president and with the housing manager in Edmonton and they agreed a couple months wouldn't hurt it."

But Thompson, who has since decided not to resign, said it would not be for just a "couple months" as the MUH's budget would not come until April 1988.

Thompson also argued that she spent two days searching for office space and was able to find several in the area, all within the MUH budget.

"The issue is that Edie offered her assistance in finding an office and then two board members out of seven turn around and stab her in the back," said Arsenau. "I thought we needed a majority vote on issues like this."

Pelletier responded saying he didn't think the issue was important enough to call a council meeting to vote on the issue.

MUH is an $18 million association which operates through the Alberta Home Mortgage Company.