David Chartrand calls Mtis National Council allegations in lawsuit 'baseless'

The Manitoba Mtis Federation (MMF) and its president David Chartrandare denying the allegations made by theMtis National Council (MNC) in a multi-million dollar lawsuitthat says the MMF caused the MNC serious financial harm.

The lawsuit filed on Jan. 27 in Ontario Superior Court, alleges that in the lead-up to the MMF's departure from the MNC just before the MNC election last fall, the defendants "embarked upon a scorched earth policy" tocause financial harmto MNC, as theMNC and MMF would be competing to be thevoice of the Mtis Nation going forward.

The MMF and Chartrand, who was vice-presidentof the MNCuntil last fall, filed a statement of defence on Wednesday, in which they callthe lawsuit the "latest salvo in a broader political dispute over the representation of the Mtis people."

The statement of defence accuses the MNC of having a political agenda "to secure power and influence amongst Mtis people in Canada and to erode and ultimately usurp the MMF's position as the representative body of the Red River Mtis."

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Among the allegations are that $9 million from the $30 million Mtis Veterans Fund Contribution Agreement was transferred to the MMF, breaching MNC bylaws and that a seven-year lease was signed for an MNC office in Ottawa at a higher-than-market rent, being paid to a landlord whose shareholders are associated with the MMF.

The MNC is seeking $15 million in damages, and another $1 million in punitive damages, as well as other forms of restitution, according to its statement of claim.

Chartrand said all the allegations are an attempt to misguide and mislead the Mtis Nation.

"When you look at their statement of claim against us, it's baseless," Chartrand said, adding there is no money missing.

He said the rent on the MNC office in Ottawa was "way under it's within the fabric of what rent costs are."

"In fact, they get more space and parking," he said.

"The most embarrassing part we've given them notice . You don't want to pay me rent, then move out of here, go find a place that you think is better out there. So that's the position they're in now."

Chartrand said the MMF will have anoffice in Ottawa and potentially officesacross the Prairies.

Veterans fund transfer in audit, says Chartrand

TheMtis Veterans Fund Contribution Agreement from the federal government was the result of over 20 years of advocacy over thediscriminatory treatment in how benefits were distributed to soldiers returning from the Second World War, advocacy led by Chartrand, according to the statement of defence.

The statement of defence says theMNC "did not have the capacity to administer and implement the Contribution Agreement" so the implementation was"outsourced" to MMF through a service delivery agreement.

Chartrand saidthe MNC knew aboutthe $9 millionfrom the veterans fund transferredto the MMF.

"When you look at the legacy fund, it was a promise I made and it was a request of our veterans," he said.

"[MNC]made a claim that they had no knowledge of the investment, yet it's in their 2021 audit," he said.

In an emailed statement,the MNC said"President [Cassidy] Caron is pleased to have received the statement of defence so that the court process can proceed.

"We have every confidence in the judicial process and as this is a matter before the court, we will have no further comment at this time."