Gary
Lipinski Honoured to be Elected as MNO President
Tuesday,
April 22, 2008 -- MNO Press Release
OTTAWA --- Newly acclaimed Métis
Nation of Ontario (MNO) President Gary Lipinski
today expressed his congratulations to all
members of the Provisional Council of the
Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO) which
were acclaimed today in an announcement
by MNO Chief Electoral Officer Lawrence
Gladue and wished best of luck to all those
candidates who are seeking office within
the contested positions.
“I am extremely
honoured to be elected by such a strong
endorsement of the Métis people across
the province. I look forward to working
with all members of the PCMNO and Community
Councils to establish our direction for
this next term and continue the momentum
that former President Belcourt has established
in the past 15 years.” stated Lipinski.
Lipinski further stated
“This next term, which officially
begins May 6th following the election of
the contested positions, will be very exciting
for the Métis of Ontario. With the
recent announcement by the Provincial Government
on establishing a Framework Agreement we
can expect that the Métis Nation
in Ontario will continue to move our agenda
forward in the best interests of our people.
I would like to offer personal congratulations
to other members of the Executive who I
have worked closely with in the past, France
Picotte, newly elected Chair and Secretary
Treasurer incumbent Tim Pile.”
President Lipinski started
his political career as a councillor on
the Sunset Country Métis Council
Gary expressed his vision for Métis
people within Ontario and gradually progressed
through the political structure becoming
Region 1 Councillor and in 1999 was elected
as Chair of the Métis Nation of Ontario
of which he held until this current election.
In addition to the elected positions that
Lipinski held, he also sits on various Provincial
and National Committees representing the
Métis People of Ontario and was an
integral part of the battle for Métis
Rights including the landmark Powley case
concerning the right to hunt.
The Métis are a
distinct Aboriginal people with a unique
culture, language and heritage, and with
an ancestral Homeland that centres around
Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta,
British Columbia, parts of the Northwest
Territories, as well as the northwestern
United States. The Métis played an
instrumental role in the shaping of Canada,
and work tirelessly to share their culture,
music, traditions and knowledge of the environment
with their fellow Canadians. Today, the
Métis live, work, raise their families
and pay taxes in communities all across
Canada.
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