Four candidates are running for the position of President of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S).
Incumbent MN-S President Glen Hector McCallum is looking to ward off challenges for the organization’s top job from candidates Clem Chartier, Karen LaRocque and Mary Ann Morin.
Chartier is viewed as the main challenger for the MN-S Presidency. He served as MN-S President from 1998 to 2003 and President of the Metis National Council from 2004 to 2019.
Earlier this spring, Chartier announced a legal challenge to MN-S constitutional amendments that allow only registered Métis Nation-Saskatchewan citizens to vote in MN-S elections. McCallum is an advocate of the constitutional amendments.
The MN-S election is scheduled for May 29, with advance polls in regional offices and select communities between May 14 and May 22.
A total of 20 nominations were filed for the organization’s four executive positions (President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer), and 34 nominations for the 12 Regional Representative positions.
Incumbent MN-S Vice-President Gerald Morin is running for re-election against candidates Darrel Burnouf, Darren Deschambeault, Michelle LeClair and Dale McAuley.
Lisa McCallum, the MN-S incumbent Secretary, is running again for the post against candidates Beckie Belanger, May V. Henderson, Craig Henry Morin and Ashley Norton.
A crowded field of six candidates is running for MN-S Treasurer, including incumbent Earl Cook, Louis G. Gardiner, Melvina Goulet, Harmonie Amanda King, John Robert LaFontaine and Dennis Langan.
Two MN-S Regional Representatives, both of them incumbents, were returned to their positions at the close of nominations last week. They include Ryan Lee Carriere in ER1 and Marg Friesen in ER3.
Candidates for NR1 region include: Laura Burnouf, Anne Dorion, and Glenn Marcel Lafleur.
In NR2, candidates are incumbent Leonard John Montgrand and challenger Nap Chartier.
Five candidates are contesting the election in NR3: incumbent Mervin (Tex) Bouvier, Randy (Yogi) Belanger, Peter Frank Durocher, Alex Laurent Maurice, and Mervin C. Morin.
In ER2, incumbent Brent Wilfred John Digness is challenged by candidates Dennis Wilfred Miller and Brittany St. Dennis.
In ER2A, incumbent Derek (Porky) Langan is squaring off in the election against Garry Martin and Tim J. W. Roussin.
In WR1, incumbent Loretta King is up against Michael Edward Bell and Melanie Pritchett.
In WR1A incumbent Billy Kennedy is running against Carol Delorme and Crystal Miller.
in WR2, incumbent Sherry Ann McLennan is running for re-election against challengers Darlene Berube, Curtis Duane Blanchard and Darlene McKay.
In WR2A, incumbent Penny Hurton is running against Kathie Pruden Nansel and Cheryl Reed.
In WR3 incumbent Wendy Gervais is running against challengers Wayne McKenzie and Calvin Racette.