Rights and Democracy: more on transparency

The details on that change to the by-laws that Rights and Democracy board chair Aurel Braun is seeking: here is what will be on the agenda of the upcoming March 25-6 board meeting.

It is hereby resolved that By-Law No. 1 be amended as follows:

1. Section 6 is amended by amending subsection (1) and (2) as follows:

“6.(1) In addition to the meetings called pursuant to subsection (1) of section 20 of the Act, the Chairperson shall call a special meeting of the Board when he or she is requested in writing (including electronic means and e-mails) to do so by at least five (5) Members of the Board of Directors.

6.(2) The special meeting referred to in subsection (1) shall be held not less than seven (7) days and not more than thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of a written request for such meeting.”

2. Section 31 is amended to read as follows:

“Every cheque or order for payment of money drawn on the Account referred to in section 30 or any other account of the Centre shall be signed either by the President of the Centre and any one member of the Board of Directors, or by the President of the Centre and one of the two officers designated for such purpose by the President of the Centre in writing, or by the two officers so designated by the President of the Centre.”

3. Section 39 is amended to add the following:

“39.(3) This section regarding calls for tender does not apply in cases of appointment or engagement of employees, agents, consultants and advisors by the President of the Centre, as provided for in section 26.” [emphasis added]

4. Section 40(1) is amended by changing the words “at least two officers” by the words “the President of the Centre and any one Member of the Board of Directors or by the President of the Centre and any one officer of the Centre.”

Note the addition of considerable powers to the presidency, including unfettered contracting rights. With the current vacancies on the board, the Magnificent Seven are likely to get the two-thirds majority required to pass these amendments.

As an aside, I am informed by no less an authority than board member and former interim president Jacques Gauthier that the Minutes of that fateful January 7 meeting are still not finalized.