Native Council of P.E.I. without leader
Ongoing dispute over who was in charge has led to 'very divided' membership
The question of who should be in charge caused debate and division last month.
"At the [annual general assembly], unfortunately, our membership was very divided," said public relations director Andrew Sark.
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More than 60 members agreed to dissolve both past and present executive councils after a dispute between the old council, and an interim one that ousted the former leaders last month, says Sark.
"There certainly was a lot of emotion and people felt hurt and betrayed during that evening," said Sark.
"I'm really hoping that the next person to come in is going to focus on bringing the membership back together."
The new council said there were financial irregularities within the organization.
A private accounting firm is now auditing the council's books.
"I think it'll put a lot of minds at ease and it may draw light to where there needs to be improved. But the audit will be sort of telltale, this is what kind of condition we're in," said Sark.
Services and programs haven't been interrupted, says Sark.
The Native Council posted a notice on its website about current situation, including a motion passed on Sunday that reads in part: "The interim signing authority will remain the same as of now, to avoid any disruption to programming and employees and the doors will be re-opened to the employees... there is to be no Board of Directors and Executive within the building (only to sign the checks as needed) until the time when a valid Board of Directors and Executive have been elected by the members."
Staff are managing the office until a new chief and council are elected March 21. Registration for that meeting will begin at 8 am at the Hillsborough Centre on Patterson Drive in Charlottetown.