(October 26, 2023) Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) is buying a 40 unit apartment building in Fort St. John that was on the market for a reported $8 million but a review of MNBC Board minutes that have been posted shows no record of any decision to purchase.
The planned purchase of Crosstown Apartments at 9304 – 99 Ave. in Fort St. John was referenced in the MNBC AGM report in September after first being revealed in the July Report of the Region 7 Director. However no purchase price has been revealed and a review of Board meeting minutes going all the way back to May 2023 shows no Board resolution regarding any plan or intent to purchase an apartment building in Fort St. John. According to the BC Assessment Authority the property was assessed at $4.5 million in 2023.
In her July report, the Regional Director said “Renovations will begin in the late fall to renovate the first-floor suites into larger units” and the AGM report stated “MNBC will remodel some units to provide three-bedroom family-size apartments.”
Some obvious questions arise:
Why is there no Board resolution regarding the intended purchase or actual purchase in the MNBC Board minutes that have been posted?
If the Board of Directors didn’t approve the intended purchase, who did?
How much is MNBC paying to purchase the 40-unit apartment building?
What are the purchase arrangements? Full payment upfront or monthly or annual payments?
Has a business plan been prepared?
Who will own the apartment building? MNBC or some other entity or organization?
How much will the renovations cost?
What will happen to the existing tenants in the 40-unit apartment building, many of whom are seniors?
How and when will the existing occupancy of the 40 units transition into Métis Housing?
BC Métis Leader and former MNBC President Clara Morin Dal Col said, “This is a multi-million dollar purchase using public funds. Where’s the business plan? Why has there not been more information about this purchase so all Métis Citizens throughout British Columbia know the details and can determine whether the purchase is a sound investment and is a good use of public funds?”
Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “The last time an MNBC Board made a multi-million dollar purchase they bought a school back in 2009. It was a very bad decision that we are still paying for today. We need to know the full details of this latest purchase so that the Board doesn’t get us into a deal that ends up costing MNBC Citizens over the long-term. “
Ms. Morin Dal Col, who has announced that she will be seeking the MNBC Presidency in the 2024 election said, “We need accountability and transparency.”
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For further information:
Contact Clara Morin Dal Col
Candidate for MNBC Presidency
Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com
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