Questions that need to be asked of the current MNBC Board
(September 2, 2024) With only a few days left to vote in the current MNBC General Election on September 7th, here’s some key questions that need to be asked of the Mineault group of incumbents.
1. Why have no annual operating budgets been posted on the MNBC website since 2022? These are public dollars that are supposed to be for the benefit of MNBC Citizens. Where’s the accountability and transparency?
2. Article 9.2 of the MNGA Act requires that an Expenditure Report be posted on the MNBC website by June 1st each year reporting all expenditures of the MNBC Board including “…legal and professional fees, consultant and contractor fees…” in the previous fiscal year. It was posted late this year and expenditures for legal and professional fees, consultants and contractor fees were not included. Where’s the accountability and transparency?
3. Why has the current Board of Directors held so many in-camera sessions in the past 3 years? There have been more than 36 in-camera sessions held since January 2021 that we know of but we have little or no idea of what was specifically discussed in these sessions. Why the secrecy? Where’s the accountability and transparency?
4. Why are there now more than 300 employees at MNBC? Why has the number of staff ballooned by more than 400% in the last 3 years? What do all these people do? What is the total cost? Where’s the accountability and transparency?
5. How many millions of dollars have been spent on property purchases in the past 3 years? $25,000,000? $30,000,000? Or more? Why are there no Board minutes revealing the decisions? What name is on the ownership of these properties? What financial arrangements were made for the purchase of these properties? How much was paid out in broker commissions for the purchase of these properties? How much has been committed from future government funding for housing? Where’s the accountability and transparency?
Here is what the Clara Morin Dal Col Team would do to address this lack of accountability and transparency:
Our Commitments
5. Full review and disclosure of the state of MNBC Finances
A full review and disclosure of the state of MNBC Finances will be undertaken by our new Board beginning in the first 30 days of being sworn into office. This critical task will review all aspects of current and future government funding for MNBC and decisions made by the current Board, including any decisions made in camera regarding the expenditures of those dollars. The review will include an assessment of all expenditures made in all operational areas, including commitments made going forward. The review will include (but not be limited to) looking at all contracts, consultant costs, legal costs, vehicle purchases, travel expenses and project commitments of any type. This review is essential to know where MNBC stands financially today and going forward because a new federal government may not be so generous in funding Métis and other Indigenous organizations following the next federal election. The results of the review will be made available to MNBC Citizens. The findings of the review may require a more detailed financial analysis of certain aspects of operations.
6. Current High Board Salaries will be reviewed by outside independent group
An independent review of current Board salaries will be carried out by an outside group to make recommendations about the current amounts, and the salary amounts going forward.
7. Seeking input on proposed Annual Operating Budgets
Citizen input will be sought on Annual Operating Budgets to ensure budgets reflect the needs of Citizens.
8. Publishing Annual Operating Budgets
The current Board has failed to publish any annual operating budgets since 2022. The annual operating budgets for MNBC will be published on the MNBC website each April once they are approved by the Board of Directors.
9. Implement a policy commonly referred to as a Sunshine Policy
Applying the principle of accountability and transparency the policy would require the disclosure of all MNBC staff salaries of $100,000 or more by April 30th of each year so that MNBC Citizens would know how much upper management staff are being paid.
10. List the names and amounts of all contractors and consultants on an annual basis
This is already a requirement of Article 9.2.1 of the MNGA Act, but the current Board has failed to comply with it. MNBC Citizens have the right to know who is on contract to MNBC providing any form of consulting services.
(For more information about all 28 of the Clara Morin Dal Col Team commitments click on the link below):
BC Métis Leader Clara Morin Dal Col said, “Although I was prevented from running in this election by the Chief Electoral Officer and the MNBC Senate, we have an excellent team of candidates on the ballot, who if elected, will ensure accountability and transparency for MNBC Citizens on all decisions made by the Board. I urge you to vote for them to ensure real change on the MNBC Board.”
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