"I think it is very suspect that those ads came out at election time," [Dumont] said. "It's an abuse of government finances. It's meant to bolster the image of the president."

"We wanted the commercials to come out earlier, but it didn't work out that way," [David Chartrand] said. "But I won't walk away from my duties as president just because there is a campaign."

Chartrand has been a central figure behind the scenes in a suit by the Métis National Council against Dumont. The council has alleged Dumont violated the terms of his appointment as national governor of the Métis people when he resigned to run against Chartrand in 2003.