Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 24/00) - With employees and bills unpaid, Metis Nation NWT president George Morin has been removed from office by the executive.

Without support from the executive, Morin lost signing authority to Nation bank accounts and the executive held an emergency meeting April 20, during which Richard Lafferty was appointed interim administrator.

"Things had really deteriorated to the point where staff had not been paid for nearly a month," Lafferty said. "Without signing authority, nothing could change."

Lafferty, who had run against Morin for the presidency, said the board called Morin repeatedly urging him to call a meeting, but he never returned the calls.

"Finally it came to the last resort, where the executive had to move in to end this stalemate."

During the meeting, Lafferty said Joyce Pitman was reinstated as secretary-treasurer, Marilyn Pike rescinded her resignation and Lafferty was appointed as interim administrator until the next board meeting or an annual general assembly.

President Morin said he had given his staff the week off, while he concentrated on getting the financials in order.

Morin said was just finishing up a lunch meeting and about to go to Nation headquarters, when he received a call from Lafferty.

"He said he was calling from my office -- I couldn't believe it," Morin said.

Morin said Saturday that he's not yet heard back from his attorneys but has already moved to filing a court injunction against the takeover.

"I'm still the president," Morin said. "I have to stand up for the 4,000 members who elected me."

"My only alternative is to file an injunction and take this to court," Morin said. "I'm also going forward to form an elders dispute resolution clause under our constitution."

Lafferty said once the financial and business affairs are in order, the board will call for a full meeting or annual general assembly "in the near future."

Lafferty said a board meeting via teleconference will be held on April 25.