IndigenousA lawsuit that accused Métis leaders Clément Chartier and David Chartrand of scheming to destroy the Métis National Council by committing political warfare has been dismissed by an Ontario judge.Judge rules trio did not breach their fiduciary duties, acted in best interests of MNCEdzi’u Loverin · CBC News · Posted: Nov 25, 2025 8:23 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Justice Loretta Merritt said in her decision Manitoba Métis Federation president David Chartrand, pictured, and Métis National Council president Clément Chartier did not set out to destroy the MNC and harm it financially to benefit themselves. (The Canadian Press)A lawsuit that accused Métis leaders Clément Chartier and David Chartrand of scheming to destroy the Métis National Council by committing political warfare has been dismissed by an Ontario judge.Justice Loretta Merritt handed down her decision in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Monday.The suit, launched by the Métis National Council (MNC) against the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) and its president Chartrand, former MNC president Chartier, former MNC executive director Wenda Watteyne and consultants, accused the defendants of improperly funnelling key assets to MMF prior to it leaving the council.Chartier and Chartrand’s defence lawyers have called the suit “a vindictive attempt to punish political enemies,” arguing there was no evidence they had engaged in “scorched earth political warfare” to harm the organization and empower the Manitoba Métis Federation.Chartrand said he’s pleased at the outcome.“This was filed as a vengeance,” said Chartrand. “For the judge to see right through it, that gives me a smile on my face because justice was there, justice was listening.”The MNC said in a statement the case was launched in good faith as one piece of a broader, multi-year effort to restore confidence and accountability across the Métis Nation.“Métis citizens expect us to continue building a strong, accountable, and united Métis Nation. That is the path we remain on,” said MNC president Victoria Pruden in the statement. “The MNC has been strengthening our governance and affirming our commitment to ethical leadership. That work will continue, regardless of this ruling.” Three Métis political associations from the Prairies formed MNC in 1983 to advocate for their rights. MMF broke from the national council in 2021, over a long-running dispute on whether the Métis Nation of Ontario was in compliance with the national definition for Métis citizenship. Last year, Saskatchewan followed Manitoba’s lead and separated from MNC. Then British Columbia left. MNC has thus lost three of its five members, leaving it with just Alberta and Ontario. Issues with credibilityFor over two months, the court heard more than 20 years of MNC political, administrative and financial history from Métis Nation leaders’ testimony.The MNC said the defendants schemed to authorize key transactions in secret, as they did not receive the board of governors’ approval under the MNC bylaws.The key assets include $8.65 million earmarked for Métis veterans and a culturally important history database. MNC also accused the defendants of giving lucrative payouts to loyal employees.Merritt found that the transactions were authorized as the president and vice-president had significant authority, and the two-signature board of governors bylaw was not strictly followed historically.”While the new administration of the MNC may not agree with Mr. Chartier’s and President Chartrand’s decisions, this disagreement does not establish a breach of fiduciary duty,” said Merritt in her decision.”Mr. Chartier tried repeatedly to hold BOG meetings,” she said.”The [Métis Nation of Alberta] and [Métis Nation-Saskatchewan] refused to participate…. In the face of this stalemate, holding a BOG meeting required one side of the dispute to relent. Neither was willing.”Merritt said there were some “fundamental issues which turn on the credibility of the witnesses” in the case.Plaintiff witness Audrey Poitras, who was president of the Métis Nation of Alberta from 1996 to 2023, impeached on core MNC operations testimony, as did former MNC president Cassidy Caron.Merritt said Métis Nation of Ontario president Margaret Froh, also a witness for the plaintiff, and Poitras were more influenced by their political views and interest in the outcome than evidence.“Both Ms. Poitras and president Froh were evasive at times when confronted with previous inconsistent evidence, or flat out refused to admit when their evidence was clearly wrong,” said Merritt.Merritt said Poitras “never referred to numerous contracts that have only one signature and which she agrees are binding on the MNC.”“Whether there was a requirement that all contracts have two signatures is a key issue. These were very significant omissions.”As for defence witnesses, Merritt said she “found Mr. Chartier, president Chartrand and Ms. Watteyne’s evidence more credible and reliable.”“They did not set out to destroy the MNC and harm it financially to benefit themselves, the Consultants or the employees,” said Merritt in her decision.“They acted honestly and with a view to the best interests of the MNC and the Métis Nation.”Merritt found Chartrand, Chartier, and Watteyne are entitled to compensation for all costs they incurred in the action.ABOUT THE AUTHOREdzi’u Loverin is graduate of CBC’s Indigenous Pathways Program and has reported in Vancouver and Winnipeg since 2024. Edzi’u is a member of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and a registered member of the Tahltan Nation, but is currently based in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ territories. You can email Edzi’u at edziu.loverin@cbc.ca with story ideas.
Ontario court dismisses Métis National Council case against former leaders
