The former lawyer, who grew up in Corner Brook but has been living in Calgary since the early 1980s, recently filed a lawsuit against Qalipu, the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and the federal government.
In addition, he has filed a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
As referenced in the statement of claim filed with the Supreme Court of Canada for the lawsuit, Doucette is claiming the enrolment process involved the federation and the federal government collecting excessive personal information from the nearly 101,000 people who applied to be members of Qalipu.
The document outlining his complaint with the federal privacy commissioner raises questions about how the personal information of applicants was collected and transported, along with how it will be stored.
Doucette, who was suspended from practicing law by the law Society of Alberta in 2002, has never reapplied for reinstatement and cannot represent anyone but himself in a court of law.
The actions being pursued by Doucette have absolutely nothing to do with planned legal action by the Mi’kmaq First Nation Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, emphasized assembly chairman Dave Wells.
“It’s his right to do what he’s doing, but we are taking our own path with this,” said Wells.
In fact, the assembly hopes to file its case regarding the legalities of the enrolment process in the Supreme Court of Canada some time next week. Wells doesn’t think what Doucette is doing will undermine the assembly’s legal battle.
Qalipu Chief Brendan Mitchell is aware of Doucette’s lawsuit and is anticipating the assembly soon filing its action.
He said he wouldn’t doubt there might be others who will try to bring their cases to the courtroom.
As for Doucette’s statement of claim, Mitchell said he hasn’t read it yet.
“I can’t make an opinion because I don’t even know what is in his lawsuit,” said the chief.
