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March 1, 2002
QIA dissolves joint board
Directors vote to establish
separate bodies to govern business and development arms
MIRIAM
HILL
The Ulu Economic Development
Commission is no longer acting as a joint board responsible for the Kakivak
Association and the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation.
At a board meeting of the
Qikiqtani Inuit Association in Qikiqtarjuaq last week, directors voted to dissolve
the body, which had been responsible for both QC, the business arm of the association,
and KA, a non-profit society that funds development and training.
The two arms of QIA will
now be served by separate boards.
Johnny Mike, the interim
president of QC and the vice-chair of the Ulu board said there were two separate
boards for each association until 1997 when, as a cost-cutting measure, they
were put together.
"The combined boards
have been outgrown by the responsibilities of the two organizations," Mike
said. "The accountability has to be there also. Each board has grown in
the last two years, so I would say we are talking about accountability and the
representation to the beneficiaries."
Each board will have five
members. The six members of the Ulu board will choose on which board they wish
to serve. The chair will also have his choice of boards. Another member of QIAs
executive committee will chair the other board. The remaining three positions
are to be filled by eligible candidates.
Mike said while the move
may be more expensive, as it results in 10 board members rather than seven,
it is worth the cost.
"I think the direction
weve been looking at is the money being well spent and if its viable,
yes, it probably will cost more," he said. "But doing a better job
will cost you more money."
A split board will also
help alleviate any possible conflict of interest issues that could arise as
the business arm of QIA and its funding association grow.
"The policy issues
are getting to be questionable," Mike said, citing himself as an example.
"Whether I can be sitting on two boards and make a proposal that on the
other hand I can approve, it seems to be a bit of a conflict of interest."
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