OTTAWA -- The Metis National Council says its election for a new president will be delayed following the withdrawal of the Metis Nation of British Columbia from its annual general assembly.
The Metis National Council, which was once made up of provincial Metis groups from across the country, has in recent years seen those same organizations pull out and advocate for their causes independently.
The Manitoba Metis Federation pulled out of the group in 2021, citing concerns with membership in the Metis Nation of Ontario, while the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan pulled out earlier this year for similar reasons.
The B.C. group says it has withdrawn from the annual general assembly happening this week, and won't participate in a vote for a new president which was scheduled to take place.
The group says with the withdrawal of the Saskatchewan group, the governance structure that remains is "inequitable," and that its future with the Metis National Council is uncertain.
The Metis Nation of British Columbia says a decision will be made after it consults with its community leaders at the end of November.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.