A special message for Anonymous!

Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for your recent e-mail. After taking it under advisement we decided not to publish it verbatim because of possible legal consequences. However, here's what we can say:

(1) Your comments are indeed correct. For further substantiation simply consult the official court transcript of the April 2006 trial of Metis National Council Secretariat/Metis National Council/President Clem Chartier versus Yvon Dumont. Count the number of times the name Lionel R. Chartrand is referenced

(2) Here's another example:

(i) While Webmaster for CyberSmokeSignals.com, Mr. Lionel Chartrand agreed in writing (announcement posted) to serve as pro bono General Legal Counsel. This was done because we'd received very reliable information during September 2003 the Provincial Board of Directors had passed a Resolution to pay a lawyer to monitor the site in search of litigious material

(ii) The same Lionel Chartrand subsequently received two defamation warning letters both dated February 9, 2004 from Federation attorney Murray Norman Trachtenberg. The other Co-Defendants in the case (Vanessa Everton, Terry Belhumeur and I) only became aware of the existence of his second missive much later (February 2006) and even at that it was by accident - Counselor Trachtenberg had included in as part of one of his many affidavits

(iii) During March 2004, I received an e-mail from a St. Norbert Local Member who had attended a meeting during which Al Benoit announced four Metis solicitors had been retained to advise those hunters who held an MMF Harvesters Card but had been charged by Conservation Manitoba. The fourth name mentioned was none other than Lionel Chartrand. The gentleman was somewhat taken aback given the significant criticism Mr. Lionel Chartrand had leveled at the President's leadership and particularly his approach to hunting rights

(iv) I telephoned Lionel Chartrand for confirmation at which time he noted he'd been approached at the Federation's 2003 Annual General Assembly (Winnipeg) by the President inquiring as to whether he'd be interested in providing legal advice. On said occasion L. Chartrand further claimed he'd agreed to a personal services contract but had yet to do any paid work

(v) Lionel Chartrand attended the May 4, 2004 Hearing in which the MMF appealed Mr. Dumont's earlier lower court victory to have the results of the 2003 election for the Office of President overturned. During a recess in the proceedings, I observed and overheard (from behind my newspaper) President Chartrand engage Mr. L. Chartrand in what could best be described as a very friendly discussion. Upon its conclusion the latter left the courtroom. Most curious I followed and approached him in the corridor noting he sure seemed amicable with the MMF leader at which point he stated the Provincial Board of Directors had passed a Resolution not to sue him for defamation

Before I could question him more closely for particularization, Mr. Lionel Chartrand claimed he had to represent a client and scurried down the hallway

(v) During September 2005 I was shown written documentation strongly suggesting Mr. Lionel Chartrand had indeed been approached (December 2004) by the MMF to do legal work

We rest our case.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk