Defeated in an election process that he was critical of to begin with, Eduard Hiebert offered no hint whether he would abandon his ongoing battle with the Manitoba Canola Growers Association.
Hiebert, an incumbent in the director elections, said he would consult his lawyer before commenting further on what he considered irregularities in the election.
Hiebert and the MCGA were locked in a battle last year over how the association determines who qualifies as a member. Hiebert argued that the membership list, used to draw up the voters list, was flawed because it did not appear to have been kept current and there were far too many names on it.
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Two months ago the association issued a News release
news critical of Hiebert’s actions as an MCGA director. At the same time, the association indicated it would call a special meeting Jan. 14 in Brandon to ask the membership to vote on whether Hiebert should be expelled from the board if he was re-elected.
In December, the conflict became even more complex when Hiebert won approval from a provincial court judge to pursue a private prosecution against the seven other directors on the MCGA board for allegedly failing to maintain a proper membership list.
“I see no change on the plans for that,” Hiebert said Jan. 6. “I don’t see any reason why that should be stopped.”
In a letter to The Western Producer, the MCGA’s lawyer, Mona Brown, said the private prosecution launched by Hiebert sets a dangerous precedent for non-profit groups, since it might deter people from volunteering for those boards.
“Imagine being personally charged and having to appear in court and defend yourself because one member of your non-profit board disagrees with you.”
