April 15, 2014 - 10:37 AM
OTTAWA - New documents show at least two provincial Metis groups came under scrutiny after questions arose about their management and finances.
Audits of the British Columbia and Saskatchewan organizations have come to light as their national council is embroiled in a controversy over its own expenses that has bred animosity among its top leadership.
Both Metis groups insist they have since dealt with the issues raised in their audits.
The Aboriginal Affairs Department hired an outside consultant to look at the books of the Metis Nation Saskatchewan and the Metis Nation British Columbia.
The Canadian Press obtained copies of the two audits, both done in 2012 by Ottawa-based Hallux Consulting, under the Access to Information Act.
The Saskatchewan audit raised questions about executive compensation and travel, while the B.C. audit found apparent conflicts of interest and expenses that should have been ineligible for federal funding under the terms of their contribution agreements with the government.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014