More voters, more excitement for Métis Nation-Sask. election, prof says

Jeremy Warren · CBC News

· Posted: May 20, 2025 8:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

Métis citizens successful the state volition caput to the polls this play for what could beryllium 1 of the astir breathtaking Métis Nation—Saskatchewan (MN-S) enactment elections successful caller memory, according to an adept successful Métis governance and politics.

Citizens are voting for 4 enforcement enactment and 12 determination manager positions that make up the Provincial Métis Council. Advance voting is over, leaving predetermination time connected May 24 arsenic the past accidental to vote.

"In the past 10 years, we've seen a signifier of bully governance and cleanable elections, and I deliberation there's a batch of citizens that are acceptable to enactment successful this authorities and moving this authorities forward," said Kurtis Boyer, a University of Saskatchewan adjunct prof and the Research Chair successful Métis governance and argumentation astatine the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

"I deliberation we'll spot an summation successful votes being formed successful this predetermination … and connected the minds of the citizens volition beryllium conscionable simply the things that person brought them to citizenship: programs and services, the question toward self authorities and the signifier of bully governance."

There are astir 28,000 eligible voters this election, up from astir 16,000 successful the 2021 election, said Gwen LaFond, the MN-S chief electoral officer.

"We are afloat staffed and expecting a bully elector turnout," LaFond said. "It is the past accidental for Métis citizens to formed their ballot and we're excited to spot the turnout."

There are 5 candidates for MN-S president: Naz Chalifoux, Kevin Henry, Bonnie Grace Marwood, incumbent Glen McCallum and Lisa McCallum. Citizens tin besides ballot for vice-president, treasurer and caput successful summation to voting for 1 of 12 determination directors.

One of the large tasks for the caller MN-S medication is negotiating a modern pact and self-government statement with Ottawa, a process that began respective years agone with a extremity of finishing this year.

"There's a batch of enactment that needs to beryllium done to guarantee that way continues and I deliberation that's what voters are looking for successful enactment today," Boyer said, adding that relationship-building with different governments volition beryllium cardinal to a palmy administration.

LaFond said the elections bureau changed a fewer policies to assistance pass voters and promote turnout, specified arsenic adding campaigner profiles and platforms to the predetermination website alternatively of conscionable a database of names. The elections squad besides focused connected getting much younker progressive and hired immoderate to enactment astatine polling stations.

"We tin usage the polls to thatch them astir ideology … to turn them arsenic Métis younker citizens, but besides to assistance them recognize the predetermination process," LaFond said.

Boyer said he's seen much Métis younker connected campus interested successful authorities and governance successful caller years.

"They're informed and they cognize that their ballot matters now.… So I deliberation it's conscionable a fantastic and breathtaking accidental for young radical to come and beryllium involved in the federation building," Boyer said.

How to Vote

Election time is May 24 and polls are unfastened from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST. Unofficial results volition beryllium disposable connected the MN-S website later that night.

Eligible voters see Métis citizens who are astatine slightest 16 years aged connected May 24, 2025, and person lived successful Saskatchewan for astatine slightest six months earlier predetermination day. For determination representatives, voters indispensable unrecorded successful the portion successful which the candidates are running.

Citizens tin registry to ballot astatine polling stations and volition person to amusement a valid Métis citizenship paper oregon a missive from the registrar showing eligibility for citizenship. Voters besides request to amusement ID from an approved database and a Saskatchewan wellness card.

Voters indispensable formed a ballot successful the portion wherever they reside. See the afloat database of polling stations successful the state to find retired wherever to vote.