(March 18, 2024) Sometime in late 2023 Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) acquired a
40 unit apartment building in Fort St. John and we learned just a few weeks ago that MNBC paid $8.6 million dollars for it, but when and how was the purchase approved? According to the BC Assessment Authority the property was assessed at just $4.7 million in July, 2023.
A review of MNBC Board of Director meeting minutes going all the way back to March 2023 shows no Board motion approving such a purchase. There’s not even a Board motion regarding any plan or intent to purchase an apartment building in Fort St. John. So exactly how was the decision made to purchase the property and who made the decision?
Any decision to acquire property, especially when a non-profit organization is spending $8.6 million of public money requires approval by the Board of Directors and good governance would have such approval recorded in the Board minutes. Even if the decision was made in-camera, in the interests of openness, transparency and accountability the decision would still need to be reported in the minutes that are available for any MNBC Citizen to see. So where is it?
In the MNBC Vice-President’s report to the MNGA in early March of this year, in his capacity as Minister for Housing and Homelessness, he indicated that the Fort St. John Métis Community “…has acquired the Crosstown Apartments…” but yet the Treasurer of MNBC in reporting on property acquisitions to the MNGA notes the “…purchase of an apartment building, Crosstown Apartments, in Fort St. John of $8.6M…” and then in the report of the Ministry of Housing and Homelessness to the MNGA it makes it clear who purchased the apartment building by stating “40 unit apartment complex purchased by MNBC in late 2023”.
So based on the latter two reports noted above we now know that MNBC acquired the building for $8.6 million dollars. Here are five key questions regarding the acquisition:
· Why was the purchase price not revealed for a number of months?
· If the Board of Directors approved the actual purchase, why is there no Board motion approving the purchase in the MNBC Board minutes that have been posted to date?
· If the Board of Directors didn’t approve the purchase, who did?
· Who negotiated the purchase and why did MNBC end up paying nearly twice the assessed value?
· What are the purchase arrangements? Full payment upfront or monthly or annual payments?
The Board of Directors Policy Manual describes the responsibilities of the Directors including a fiduciary relationship and duty to all Citizens, and a Code of Conduct that must be adhered to. The Code requires Board members to “Act with the highest standards of professional integrity and in a manner that inspires public confidence in the MNBC”.
How does the failure to record any motion in the Board meeting minutes about an $8.6 million dollar purchase using public funds meet this Code of Conduct requirement?
Another part of the Board of Directors Code of Conduct refers to “Responsibility” and requires Board members to “Recognize the responsibility in receiving and expending Nation funds”.
How does paying nearly twice the assessed value for an apartment building and not revealing the amount paid for a number of months meet this Code of Conduct requirement?
Former President Clara Morin Dal Col says, “These are not the Board of Directors’ monies. These are public funds from the federal government and MNBC Citizens are entitled to full disclosure of this expenditure of $8.6 million. It should have been provided months ago. Given this lack of transparency and openness, how does this meet the Code of Conduct requirements for Directors?”
Ms. Morin Dal Col, who has announced her plans to seek the MNBC Presidency in the MNBC general election in September says, “This Board and some other members of the MNGA thought they could stop me from running with an improper resolution at the MNGA, improper because it should have gone to the AGM for a vote by the Citizens. Two news flashes – “I am running for President” and secondly, “Let’s see how the Code of Conduct has been adhered to by this current Board of Directors.”
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