'Resign or reinstate': Daniels

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MAA heats up over ousting

The Zone 4 vice-president and director of the Metis Association have been asked to resign over the ousting of two members by the Association board in September.

Jo-Ann Daniels, president of Edmonton Local 83 has demanded that Dan Martel and Leonard Gauthier both resign or reinstate ousted members, Ron LaRocque and Ben Courtrille.

However, Martel, who says he received the demand from Daniels says he is not prepared to discuss the issue, yet.

"I don't want to respond as it may damage future relationships with that particular local. We need to sit down and discuss the whole situation rationally," he said.

But in a letter to Martel an angry Daniels says she has a "moral obligation to protect my members from the whims of the politics practised by the present leadership," and that she was "astounded" and "shocked" when she learned from board minutes that Martel's first action as Zone 4 vice-president was to suspend the members of her local without consulting members of the local.

"I find it appalling that you would use your position to eliminate members who oppose your leadership ? both these members ran for positions in the last election," continued Daniels in her letter.

Courtrille and LaRocque are the former Zone 4 vice-president and director. Both were unsuccessful candidates in the Sept. 1 election.

"If their (Courtrille and LaRocque) administration warranted such drastic action, then surely criminal charges and, at least, an investigation should have happened," said Daniels. "Neither gentlemen was brought forward to defend themselves and neither was the issue brought before the Regional Council nor to our Local," continues Daniels.

In an earlier interview, Martel told Windspeaker that LaRocque and Courtrille had been removed from the membership list over financial irregularities that were found in the Zone 4 office records.

In an interview last week, Martel said investigation into the Zone 4 records was continuing and he would be unable to comment until the investigation was completed.

President Larry Desmeules also said at the time of ousting that the decision has been unanimous and the two were removed because they had abused the privilege of belonging to the association.

However, according to LaRocque he has not been informed officially of his removal from the membership list.

"It seems they have hanged me, and are now trying to find out why," he said adding that he committed no financial indiscretions.

Desmeules was contacted in his Edmonton office, however he chose not to comment to Windspeaker.