(March 1, 2025) At only its second meeting in 2025 the Board of Directors of Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) decided to increase their Board salaries beginning in April 2025. Basing the increase on a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) which non-profit Boards normally do not have, a majority of the Board voted to increase their already high salaries by 2.5%. According to Board minutes from the January 23rd meeting which were just posted this week, nine Directors voted in favour, while three Directors were opposed. The minutes do not reveal how each Board member voted.
Based on salaries published for the fiscal year ending in March 2024, the increase means the President’s annual salary and remuneration will now rise to more than $180,000, and for other Board members the increase means their salaries and remuneration as of April 1st will be anywhere from $78,564 to $126,911 depending on their roles. This of course does not include the money they each receive for travelling and per diems which is tax-free.
But wait, there’s more. At the same Board meeting, according to the minutes, the Board discussed ‘slightly increasing’ the home office allowance. The minutes then indicate the discussion moved into talking about the COLA. The minutes fail to disclose how much Board members receive in home office allowances.
But wait, there’s even more. At a Board meeting two days earlier on January 21st, the Board approved leasing a vehicle for the President from now until 2028, “…pending a financial review by the Executive Committee.” How much is that going to cost and who chairs the Executive Committee? The President.
So this begs the question – how many Métis families and seniors trying to make ends meet in British Columbia will be receiving an increase in their salaries this year, and how many get a home office allowance?
In reaction to learning about the Board decisions, BC Métis Leader Clara Morin Dal Col says, "The seniors and families are struggling to put food on the table and are having difficulty affording basic necessities. This increase is so shameful and a blatant misuse of the citizens funding. It clearly shows that the majority of this Board did not run and are not there for the best interests of our citizens but what's in their best interest."
She adds, " It reminds me of Scrooge McDuck in the old cartoons rolling around in the money in the vault. Where is the accountability and where are the Community Presidents who need to ask the tough questions of this Board to hold them to account?"
Whoa ! Where is the accountability and transparency? Where is the care of Métis citizens! Not in this group !