YWCA Canada issued a statement on Friday distancing itself from some recent actions of the YWCA NWT board and asserting that its own attempts to intervene and help were going unanswered.
YWCA NWT abruptly terminated its executive director last month and has since twice postponed its annual meeting, which currently has no confirmed date.
In the legislature this week, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins called on Premier RJ Simpson and the territorial government to closely watch developments at the charity and intervene if necessary. Simpson said that stage had not been reached.
In a statement sent to Cabin Radio, national body YWCA Canada – of which YWCA NWT is a member association, though it operates independently – said YWCA NWT had not fully followed recommendations from the national team, had not provided all requested information and had not answered YWCA Canada’s “efforts to engage further.”
Twice, YWCA Canada said, its staff had only learned “after the fact” that the YWCA NWT AGM had been postponed. Staff had planned to attend on each occasion. The ongoing delay violates YWCA NWT’s bylaws, the national body noted, adding it may “have implications beyond the local organization.”
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“The second postponement of the AGM heightened our concerns because it delays members’ ability to exercise important governance rights within the organization,” YWCA Canada stated.
Announcing its latest postponement of the annual meeting, YWCA NWT’s board said the charity was launching an independent audit and review that would examine “governance, leadership, workplace culture, accountability and organizational practices.”
YWCA Canada said it understood those goals but they “do not replace or override an organization’s governance obligations, nor should they detract from the need for transparency, accountability, and adherence to established governance processes.”
The NWT board’s president, Rami Kaur, has been approached for comment.
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In its statement and a short follow-up call with Cabin Radio, the national body said it had no direct means of intervening in a member’s governance but could attempt to use its influence.
The national board of directors said it was “continuing to seek assurances” from YWCA NWT about the membership standing of its board members, whether recent board decisions met requirements in its constitution and bylaws, and whether the organization was being exposed to “legal, financial, operational, or reputational risk.” The national body noted members can request a special meeting by submitting a written, signed resolution to the YWCA NWT board.
“For now, we urge the YWCA NWT Board to call and hold the AGM at the earliest opportunity. We also recommend that no staffing changes be taken at this time,” YWCA Canada stated.
“We recognize there are concerns from partners and funders. We have no reason to believe there has been any disruption in the organization’s services and programs.
“If this matter is not resolved in a timely manner, we are concerned that ongoing uncertainty and governance challenges risk diverting attention, time, and resources away from the vital services YWCA NWT has been providing for more than 60 years.”
