Métis Nation British Columbia has removed President Walter Mineault amid serious allegations of misconduct and breach of fiduciary duty. The organization commissioned Wally Oppal, a former judge and politician, to lead an independent assessment.
Key Findings from the Investigation
Lawyer Robyn Gervais, who conducted the probe, determined that Mineault repeatedly leveraged his position to prioritize family interests over those of the Nation. In one case, he negotiated an inflated performance fee for his brother’s band and pressured staff to approve the hiring.
Oppal’s report details how, after the CEO declined due to the conflict, Mineault launched into a 40-minute phone call, yelling at, abusing, and intimidating her while threatening to publicly accuse her of bias against his family.
On another occasion, Mineault supported a resolution that delivered direct financial benefits to property partially owned by his third cousin. He failed to disclose the familial tie to the board and applied undue pressure on directors who raised concerns.
Additional Allegations of Abuse and Control
Gervais uncovered instances where Mineault directed a misogynistic slur at a female director and threatened to block her future travel approvals, a move deemed a violation of the B.C. Human Rights Code.
The investigation also highlighted a pattern of using authority to suppress dissent. Mineault attempted to oust the treasurer for questioning his expenses, arbitrarily denied travel to opposing directors, berated staff, swore at board members over the phone, and publicly criticized them in meetings. He further breached confidentiality by sharing in-camera discussions on a rent supplement program via his personal Facebook page.
Mineault opted not to respond to the allegations during the process.
Métis Nation British Columbia plans to hold an election soon to select a replacement president.
