CEO leaves Native Women's Association of Canada engulfed in turmoil

The most prominent Indigenous women's organization in Canada announced on Friday the departure of its chief executive officer amid internal turmoil.

In an email viewed by CBC News, Carol McBride, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC), informed staff that Lynne Groulx is no longer employed as the organization's CEO.

"NWAC continues to be committed to the grassroots Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender and gender-diverse people we serve," McBride wrote in the staff email.

The CEO's exit also follows union-busting allegations made in Ontario and Quebec labour board complaints against the organization, which NWAC denies.

In a statement, NWAC said Groulx is leaving to head a new venture focused on social business and Indigenous prosperity, which McBride later confirmed does not involve the organization.

Critics accused NWAC of straying from its non-profit mandate, but Groulx said the business endeavours were meant to generate revenues to invest into programming and community.