Young members of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan (MN-S) will soon elect the next president of the Provincial Métis Youth Council. 

Nominations for youth council president opened on the morning of October 16 and close on October 21st, giving candidates six days to assemble their application package and begin their campaign. The election will then take place in early November. 

The winner, who will succeed currently serving youth council president Jaycee Bell, will be elected to a four-year term.

Chief Electoral Officer Gwen Lafond said the incoming youth council president will have a wide-ranging and impactful portfolio serving the interests of Métis youth in Saskatchewan. 

“It’s a full-time position working with youth from all 12 regions, engaging with the youth, building membership and participation, working to build Métis youth programming and opportunities in Saskatchewan and support members,” she said. “They’re a representative for youth on the provincial Métis council, advocating for youth and participating in all provincial Métis council decisions. They’re leading the youth delegation to the Métis Nation legislative assembly. 

“They can expect to travel regularly and will be representing and advocating for Saskatchewan Métis youth at all levels of government and organizations.”

According to Lafond, 5200 people meet the eligibility criteria to run - and vote - in this election, being card-carrying Métis Nation citizens in Saskatchewan between the ages of 16 and 26. 

Lafond says it is important to have youth members of MN-S represented by a person their own age. 

“They’re bringing attention to the issues that are particular to 16-to-29-year-old Métis citizens,” she said. “They’re working with that age group and really representing what is important for Métis youth in that age bracket.” 

MN-S President Glen McCallum agreed. 

“Our youth are a valuable asset at the decision-making table of the Provincial Métis Council,” he said. “Being engaged in the full democratic process will empower the next generation of young Métis leaders and will strengthen all of our government.”

To get on the ballot, candidates will need to submit a nomination package, which can be found at https://mnselection.ca/. They will also need to submit a criminal record check and a vulnerable sector check and be nominated by at least five Métis youth citizens. 

“It’s in [candidates’] best interest to come in and file their nomination packages early,” said Lafond. “That way, if there are any questions or errors in the package, they still have time to fix and resubmit it.”

Once the nomination period closes, voters will also be able to go to https://mnselection.ca/ to find out which candidates are running and read their biographies. 

Then, the online election will take place in early November.

“On November 5th [and 6th], they’ll come to that same website, and they will find a highly visible icon where they’ll log in to vote,” said Lafond. “They will need to put in their personal Métis Nation citizenship number and personal information, which will give them access to the online voting.”

An all-candidates forum will be held on the evening of October 25th.