Defend Transparency and Integrity - Support Chris

Hello, my name is Byron Bates, and I'm reaching out to you on behalf of my friend, Christopher Beausoleil. We need your support to help Christopher defend his election win as councillor for our First Nation. Chris's victory on September 15, 2023, was nothing short of a landslide, with a remarkable lead of 131 votes over the next closest candidate.

However, shortly after Chris's well-deserved win, an appeal was filed by the Band Manager and another band councillor, trying to cast doubt on his victory. They allege that Chris owes the band money, used gift cards to buy votes, and even accused him of spreading misinformation about council members supposedly granting themselves a substantial sum of around 1.2 million from partnership revenue.

Chris ran on a platform of transparency, and it's evident that our First Nation deserves just that. Transparency has been lacking in our community for far too long. Our Nation hasn't seen any independently audited financial statements released since March 31, 2021, despite annual audits being a requirement. These audits, along with the remuneration and expenses of our elected council members, have always been made available to the public promptly. The delay is not normal, and Chris's commitment to transparency is more critical than ever.

Before his election win, Chris served as the Nation's Community Wellness Coordinator since 2021, making a significant impact on the lives of many Nation members. In 2023, a fellow elected councillor confided in him about some unsettling actions taken by the council, including a substantial payment from our First Nation's partnership revenue. Outraged by this revelation, Chris demanded accountability and transparency, ultimately leading to his resignation from the position. Shortly afterward, another councillor resigned due to similar concerns, triggering the election in which Chris emerged as the clear choice of our community.

Crucially, during Chris's employment, he received no reprimands and was even praised for his dedication and hard work. He was provided with an official letter from the Nation stating that he owed no money to FMFN, making him eligible to run in the September 15, 2023, election. It's clear that his candidacy was entirely legitimate.

Unfortunately, our First Nation is not covering Chris's legal expenses to defend himself against these allegations. In the past, elected council members, including myself, have received support for legal expenses when facing appeals. This has been standard practice to indemnify council members. Chris's appeal could cost him up to $30,000, and he needs our help to ensure that justice prevails.

Chris Haineault has demonstrated his dedication to our First Nation through years of service and his unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity. Our community has spoken loudly and clearly in support of him. Now, we must stand together to help him secure the position he rightfully earned and defend the values he holds dear.

Please consider contributing to this fund to help Chris cover his legal expenses and ensure that our First Nation continues on a path of transparency, accountability, and progress. Together, we can make a difference and uphold the principles that our community deserves. After the appeal is finished and Chris comes out victorious yet again, FMFN will be forced to cover his legal fees which he will then donate to FMFN's wellness team - injecting the money right back into our community to help those members in need.

Thank you for your support and for standing with us in this crucial time.