The Manitoba Metis Federation is taking legal action against the province.

The Manitoba Metis Federation will seek a judicial review of a decision by the provincial government to nix a $67.5-million payment to the organization from Manitoba Hydro.

The payment was to occur over several years, with the MMF agreeing not to oppose various Hydro projects over their impact on Metis peoples. Premier Brian Pallister last week characterized the deal as "persuasion money," and said the government was putting a stop to it. Pallister also believes the payment would set a bad precedent.

The federation alleges the government's refusal to pay is a breach of the honour of the Crown and the 2014 Turning the Page Agreement. MMF lawyer Jason Madden says Hydro and the federation negotiated over a three-year period, ultimately coming to an agreement in July 2017. The MMF considers the agreement legally binding.

Crowns minister Cliff Cullen issued a statement today, saying, "the province has not yet been served with documents starting court proceedings. Once that happens, the province will review in order to determine its position. The Manitoba government will continue to stand up for the rights and best interests of all Manitobans, today and into the future. We have received communications from Metis people that share concerns over future rights."

Pallister has pointed to the government's rejection of the $67.5-million payment as a reason for nine of ten Hydro board members resigning last week. Former board chair Sandy Riley has denied that, and said in the initial resignation letter the board was resigning because Pallister would not meet with them to discuss financial and governance issues, and the board believed the government had lost confidence in them.

The MMF’s legal team includes: Madden, Tom Isaac, and Murray Trachtenberg, the MMF’s general and corporate legal counsel.