Métis National Council maps disputed transfer of veterans money to Manitoba Métis Federation

The Métis National Council (MNC) is mapping the path of a disputed multimillion-dollar transfer of federal money for a veterans legacy program from council coffers to the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) in a bid to regain control of the cash, recent court filings show.

The long-time allies turned political opponents are making key internal documents public for the first time, putting how money changed hands under a microscope and revealing still-simmering strife between them.

The national group filed a court motion in February to get oversight of $8.65 million tied to a Métis veterans legacy program, plus repossession of a digital Métis history database it claims is being "unlawfully detained" by the federation.

It's the MNC's first move on the legal chessboard since suing its ex-president Clem Chartier, former MNC vice-president and current MMF President David Chartrand, the MMF itself and several officials and consultants in January 2022 for alleged financial wrongdoing.

The Ottawa-based national group says it believes Chartrand and the MMF have "misused" the veterans cash for ineligible expenses, an accusation Chartrand calls "baseless," according to affidavits filed in February and March.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

MNC President Cassidy Caron was unavailable for an interview. In a written statement, MNC said it seeks, at minimum, joint control over the cash and database until trial.

"MNC had to make a number of demands through counsel in order for MMF to 'voluntarily' deliver various veterans program accounting records," the statement said.

"MNC does not believe that MNC has received all of the required documentation to ensure that there has been a complete and accurate accounting."

Chartrand was not made available for an interview. In written statement to CBC News, the MMF said it's confident the court will dismiss the motion.

"There is not a single shred of evidence that any of the funds for the veterans program have been misused.  All of the funds have been used for the program," the statement said.

"This motion, and the litigation as a whole, is based completely on groundless suspicions and is motivated by the political agenda of the MNC. Neither the MMF nor President Chartrand have any concerns with the records becoming public because they have nothing to hide."

CBC News has obtained the affidavits, which include previous court filings, contracts, emails, letters, internal memos, bank statements, expense reports and similar documents.

The files show the veterans program at issue was created in June 2019 through a federal contribution agreement signed by Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay for Canada and Chartrand, listed as minister of both finance and veterans affairs, for MNC.