Clara Morin Dal Col’s Nomination Papers Rejected by Chief Electoral Officer
(July 30, 2024) The nomination papers for Clara Morin Dal Col to seek the Presidency of Métis Nation British Columbia in the upcoming MNBC General Election have been rejected by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). Ms. Morin Dal Col was informed of his decision by email yesterday just minutes before he posted the list of candidates.
Ms. Morin Dal Col fundamentally rejects his decision and said, “This Chief Electoral Officer has made a grave error in judgement in refusing to accept my nomination papers. MNBC Citizens have the democratic right to decide who should be their next President. What has happened to our Métis democracy?”
In rejecting her papers, the Chief Electoral Officer referenced in part an “outside legal opinion” that “…outlines that pursuant to Article 23.8 of the Constitution of the Métis Nation (the “Constitution”), a person who is found to have clearly breached their fiduciary duty is disqualified from holding a position on the MNBC Board of Directors. The legal opinion further outlines that a person who is found to have breached their fiduciary duty is not qualified to compete for an office and, therefore, no longer meets the definition of “candidate” under the Métis Nation Electoral Act (the “Electoral Act”).”
In response, Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “Contrary to the CEO’s ‘outside legal opinion’ there is nothing in the MNBC Constitution that prevents me from running. The existing language of Article 23.8 of the Constitution refers only to existing members of the MNBC Board who can be removed from office for so-called breaches of their fiduciary duty. It makes no reference whatsoever and has absolutely zero application to anyone running for office in a future election. To suggest that it does, is a very flawed legal opinion”.
Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “I submitted more than 3 times the number of signatures that I needed to run for President and there is not a single provision in the MNBC Electoral Act that rules me ineligible in seeking the Presidency in the upcoming MNBC General Election. In fact, I meet every requirement of the MNBC Electoral Act.”
She added, “The CEO has received some very bad advice and as a result has made a very bad decision. Even though in his original email to me, he did not inform me of my right to appeal under the Electoral Act, I do have that right and I will be appealing his decision.”
Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “I can assure you this matter is not over because our MNBC Citizens will have the final word.”
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(For more information about the Clara Morin Dal Col Team click on the link below):
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