Venne confirmed as NEDP board member

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Muriel Stanley Venne is still an active member of the National Economic Development Program (NEDP) Advisory Board, and that fact was "officially announced at Federation of Metis Settlements All Council meeting October 27 in Edmonton.

This announcement comes after Venne was asked to consider resigning her position on the board in March of this year, because of her involvement in the provincial election. Venne made her election bid as a candidate for the New Democratic Party in the Meadowlark riding in the May 8 provincial elections.

She was appointed to the NEDP Advisory Board in December, 1985, and last April she received a letter of congratulations from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on her appointment.

The role of the Advisory Board (NEDP is to consider and approve applications for NEDP funding.

A letter dated Mary 8, 1986, from Kenneth Thomas, chairman of the NEDP, states in regards to Venne that the government's position, as stated by the then Minister responsible for the NEDP, Andre Bissonnette, was that members of the board would be expected to govern themselves by a code of honor to the extent that if any person wished to become directly involved in partisan politics, they were free to do so. However, they would communicate that desire to the board and by inference tender their resignation.

Thomas states in his letter that it has come to his attention that Venne had been a candidate in the recent provincial election in Alberta, and this would appear to be in breach of the suggested guidelines set forth by the minister. "It is my understanding that there is a general desire on the part of the board that this policy be honored and it would appear to be fitting and proper for you (Venne) to review your situation and consider tendering your resignation," the letter said.

"I was not reinstated because I was never gone. I refused to resign. If I would have resigned from the advisory board, it would of been an admission of guilt to some-thing I never did.

"It was publicly stated at the All Council meeting, so I am fully back on the board," Venne commented.

Venne also received a letter from the Minister of State, Small Business and Tourism, Bernard Valcourt, dated October 7, which read in part that "I am satisfied that Mr. Thomas' request was predicted on his desire to have board members fulfill their duties in a professional and non-partisan manner, and on his understanding that it had been agreed by board members that, should they seek a political office, they would resign. Though such a requirement would be desirable, I find that no such requirement existed at the time of your appointment. Hence, I have concluded that your resignation from the board is not justified and therefore not necessary."

Valcourt added in the letter that it was his opinion that Venne had conducted herself in a responsible manner.

"I am also confident that you have always had the best interest of Native people at heart, and that you will continue to work for their benefit."

MP, David Kilgour made the official presentation on behalf of the Minister of State Bernard Valcourt.

"To me, all of this controversy has been resolved in a very positive manner. I feel good how things turned out. It is too bad that it had to happen, but I am glad that it is finally buried and finished with," Venne said.