(September 28, 2023) The total annual remuneration for the 11 Directors on the Board of Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) now exceeds $1 million but Vice President Walter Mineault claims Board members are probably living on close to a poverty line. The Vice President who receives an annual remuneration of $114,777, was attempting at the MNBC AGM this past weekend to defend the Board’s approval of a 36% increase in their salaries last year.
In addition to the Vice President’s remuneration, the current President’s remuneration is reported at $181,281, while the other Board members each receive remuneration of anywhere from $85,305 up to $98,870. The current Treasurer and Region 1 Director receives the third highest remuneration of all Board members at $98,870.
In trying to defend the big increase in Board salaries, the Vice President said, “Most of this Board probably made double that salary before they stepped into the role that they’re in… we are probably living on close to a poverty line.”
According to the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, the poverty level for a family of four in BC is $40,000 and for a single individual it is $25,200.
BC Métis Leader Clara Morin Dal Col, who has announced that she will be seeking the Presidency of MNBC in the 2024 election said, “What an absolutely ridiculous statement for the current Vice President to say that the Board members are probably living on close to a poverty line. When you’re pulling in remuneration from anywhere from $85,305 up to more than $181,000 per year you are not anywhere close to the poverty line.” She said, “He should apologize to the more than 380,000 British Columbians, including many Métis seniors who really are living at or below the poverty level. Many Métis seniors are living solely on their pensions and struggling to get by on a day to day basis.”
Ms. Morin Dal Col, the former President of MNBC added, “And then when the current Vice President commented that ‘most of this Board probably made double that salary before they stepped into the role’ my immediate thought was - oh really?” She said, “With these high salaries that is highly doubtful.”
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For further information:
Contact Clara Morin Dal Col
BC Métis Leader
Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com
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