(April 20, 2023) Six individuals from Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC), including three Board members and three staff all traveled to New York City this week to attend a United Nations Conference at which the Métis were already represented by the President of the Métis National Council.
None of the six from MNBC were scheduled to speak, and the MNBC website post makes reference only to a ceremony, receptions and an opening event. The three Board members who attended were the President, Vice President and the Region 7 Director, while the MNBC Chief Executive Officer was one of the three staff. So what was the justification for six individuals to travel all the way to New York City, spend three days in a city where the cost of accommodation is one of the highest in North America and not have a speaking engagement? Good question!
How much did this trip cost and who footed the bill? Direct flights between Vancouver and New York City on Air Canada are about $2743 economy return and for six individuals that would total more than $16,000 assuming they traveled economy, which we don't know for sure. Add accommodation, taxis, meals and incidentals for the six, plus additional travel and accommodation for at least two of the Board members because they live in northern BC and the bill could quickly add up to more than $20,000. So what was the exact cost and who paid the bill? Interesting to note that MNBC in its post didn’t mention the Yankees baseball game that the Vice President and the three staff attended.
BC Métis Leader and former MNBC President Clara Morin Dal Col asks, “Why did it take an entourage of six individuals from MNBC to travel all the way to New York City when the Métis Nation was already represented there?”
Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “Whether it was MNBC or MNC that paid for this trip, these are public dollars that are intended for the use of Métis people, not to send six individuals to New York to attend receptions and have their pictures taken.”
She added, “If this was their own money, would they have put out the thousands of dollars to cover such a trip? I doubt it.”
Ms. Morin Dal Col asked, “Where is the accountability?” And she added, “This is the same Board that asked for $147 million in last month’s federal budget.”
-30-
For further information:
Contact Clara Morin Dal Col
BC Métis Leader
Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com
Comments