The Métis Nation British Columbia has removed its president following a damning independent review that alleges he abused his authority, intimidated staff, and used his position to benefit family members.
The MNBC board of directors voted unanimously on April 9 to remove Walter Mineault, citing breaches of fiduciary duty. Vice President Melanie Allard has been appointed as interim president while an election is held to fill the position permanently.
"We reached this decision after careful consideration of an independent review into president Mineault's conduct and advice and counsel given to us by our Métis Nation Governing Assembly," the board said in a statement.
Pattern of Alleged Abuse and Conflicts
According to an independent assessment by former B.C. Attorney General and judge Wally Oppal, the investigation uncovered a troubling pattern of misconduct spanning months.
The allegations include:
Abuse of authority for family gain: Mineault allegedly pressured MNBC staff to hire his brother's band. When the CEO properly refused due to conflict-of-interest concerns, he engaged in a 40-minute phone call during which he yelled, abused, and intimidated her—threatening to publicly accuse her of bias against his family.
Undisclosed financial conflicts: The review found that Mineault advocated for a resolution that would have directly benefited property partially owned by his third cousin, without disclosing the family relationship to the board.
Workplace hostility: Staff and directors alleged sustained patterns of harassment, including berating employees, swearing at directors over phone calls, and publicly criticizing board members during meetings to the point of causing physiological stress responses.
Gender-based intimidation: One female director reported that Mineault directed a misogynistic slur at her and explicitly threatened to block her travel approvals in the future.
Suspension and Reinstatement
This removal comes after Mineault was suspended from his role in August 2025. He was reinstated last December, a decision now reversed following the completion of the independent investigation.
Mineault, who resides in Dawson Creek, B.C., has not publicly responded to the allegations.
This story is based on reporting from CBC News.