Prince George, B.C.- The Regional District of Fraser Fort George meets today and will try to approve its budget for the year ahead.

 

While the spending plan is not an issue of contention, the real challenge will be ensuring there is a quorum.

 

Here’s the problem in a nutshell; a recent   Court of Appeal ruling  said some trustees with the Gulf Islands Trust were in conflict when they voted on issues which benefited societies on which they held a position as director.    Here at home, there are Directors on the Board of the Regional District of Fraser Fort George who are also, for example, Directors on the North Central Government Association which is a non profit society. That means they could be viewed as being in a conflict if they approve any budget which also supports the NCLGA and the Regional District pays membership dues to the NCLGA. 

 

Regional District Administrator Jim Martin says they are considering bringing in alternate directors to sit for the budget vote in order to avoid the conflict concern. In the meantime, the Regional District has written a letter to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development  asking for the ministry to examine the issue.

 

Martin says the issue is very important, especially to rural communities, where people who are Directors of non profit societies often move into the political realm, “It is their experience with the non-profits that often  prepares them for their role on a Board such as the Regional District.”