Shameful Resolution Submitted to MNGA Attempts to Stop Clara Morin Dal Col from seeking MNBC Presidency
(February 9, 2024) A shameful resolution submitted to the Métis Nation Governing Assembly attempts to prevent Clara Morin Dal Col from running for the position of President in the 2024 Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) General Election.
The shameful and shocking resolution in effect attempts to amend the MNBC Constitution without going to the people. The resolution from the Salmon Arm Métis Association and a small handful of co-submitters refers to Article 23.8 of the Constitution. Article 23.8 has always referred only to existing members of the MNBC Board who can be removed from office for so-called breaches of their fiduciary duty. Now the resolution proposes to declare that the Article in the Constitution also apply to anyone running for office in a future election. It is aimed at stopping Ms. Morin Dal Col from running for President. She was wrongfully removed as MNBC President in January 2021 by the current group of MNBC Board members.
It is unheard of to attempt to put forward a resolution that would in effect amend the Constitution, the overriding law of MNBC, without putting forward a formal Constitutional amendment. Normally, if a formal Constitutional amendment is approved at an MNGA, it would ultimately have to go to the people at an AGM. This proposed resolution does not follow that process, and would not have to go to an AGM.
If the proponent of this resolution was so concerned about this matter, why did they not bring forward a proper resolution to amend the Constitution which would then have to go to an AGM and be approved by 75% of the MNBC Citizens attending in order to be passed? They had the last two years, four MNGA’s and two AGM’s to follow the proper process but they didn’t because they knew it would not pass at an AGM attended by citizens.
“Members of this MNBC Board and their small band of supporters are afraid that I’m going to win the next election, and this is a desperate attempt to stop me from running”, said Ms. Morin Dal Col who was first elected as President in 2016 and then re-elected in 2020.
She said, “This is not their own private club but a democratic organization that is owned by the Citizens of MNBC. They have absolutely no right to try and circumvent the process for what is in effect amending the Constitution by attempting to slip this shameful resolution by everyone at an MNGA.”
“Back in January 2021 they accused me of breach of fiduciary duty – what I was accused of was nothing compared to what they are trying to pull off with this disgraceful resolution. Voting for this resolution would indeed be a breach of fiduciary duty, because it is contrary to the process that needs to be followed in Article 73 of our Constitution, and each and every member of the MNGA needs to be mindful of that,” said Ms. Morin Dal Col.
Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “Every MNBC Citizen needs to contact their Community President and tell them this resolution should be soundly defeated at the MNGA because it fails to follow the proper process for what is in effect amending the Constitution. Shame on the proponents for trying to circumvent the Constitutional process and to deny the right of our Citizens to decide.”
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