Yellowknife (Oct 17/03) - After five years in exile, Bill Enge and 87 others will be allowed to rejoin the North Slave Metis Alliance a Supreme Court justice ruled Wednesday.

Bill Enge says he plans to call for a general election.

"This is a great day for democracy and a great day for the Metis," said a beaming Enge.

"It means institutional corruption will not be tolerated."

In an 80-minute oral decision, Justice Edward MacCallum said the alliance violated its own constitution when it expelled Enge and the 87 others in 1998.

The plaintiffs --who were suing for reinstatement and not financial compensation -- were given the boot when then president Clem Paul and members of the alliance board changed the criteria for membership.

MacCallum said the board flaunted the alliance's bylaws for changing the eligibility requirements and the plaintiffs should not have been expelled.

The alliance has 30 days to appeal the ruling. President North Douglas did not return a phone call seeking comment.

MacCallum also awarded the plaintiffs court costs, but the exact figure is yet to be determined.

Enge said he, along with former alliance vice- president Sholto Douglas, and the NWT Metis Local 66 -- a group which Enge heads-- have spent close to $200,000 on the case.

Enge maintains the decision to expel the members was based on greed and was nothing but a "blatant power grab."

He accused former alliance president Clem Paul and Robert Turner of trying to establish a tyranny.

In his ruling, MacCallum urged Enge to reconcile with members of the alliance.

"I hope they can proceed in a business-like, orderly manner," he said.

But Enge was not in an overly-conciliatory mood Wednesday afternoon.

"This is what happens when greed takes over reasoning," said Enge.

"(Members of the Alliance) wanted to fill their pockets at the expense of others. A tyranny has been thwarted."

Enge plans to call for a general election as soon as the appeal period ends. "It's time for the membership to exercise their democratic rights."

Sholto Douglas, president of NWT Metis Local 66 in Rae, said he would seek the presidency.