Conservative government introduces bill forcing public release of band politician pay
The Conservative government introduced a bill Wednesday afternoon that will force First Nations bands to publicly disclose on the Internet the salaries and expenses of chief and band councillors along with the bands’ audited financial statements.
APTN National News
OTTAWA–The Conservative government introduced a bill Wednesday afternoon that will force First Nations bands to publicly disclose on the Internet the salaries and expenses of chief and band councillors along with the bands’ audited financial statements.
Bill C-27, called the First Nations Transparency Act, would also force bands to release their financial statements, which would have to audited by an independent auditor, and chief and councillor salaries to community members who ask.
If the bill becomes law, First Nations bands would be forced to publish the information within 120 days from the end of the fiscal year. The information would also be posted on the Aboriginal Affairs’ website.
Bands which don’t comply may face court action or have grant funding withheld, according to the bill, which has now been posted on Parliament’s website.
“Our government believes First Nations, like all Canadians, deserve transparency and accountability from their elected officials,” said Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, who announced the bill at a press conference on the Dakota Whitecap reserve in Saskatchewan. “The bill builds on our government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring First Nations have strong, transparent and accountable governments. It will also lead to decreasing the reporting burden for First Nations.”
Duncan was accompanied at the press conference by Conservative Saskatchewan MP Kelly Block, who introduced a Private Member’s bill with a similar aim before the last election, and Dakota First Nation Chief Darcy Bear.
“This bill will mean more accountability of First Nation leaders to our people,” said Bear, in a statement.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo appeared to come out against the bill, and called on the government to a “commitment of transformative change.”
Atleo said First Nations leaders are already committed to transparency.
“We do not support unilateralism that further entrenches us in a system that doesn’t work for our people or Canada,” said Atleo, in a statement.
Liberal Aboriginal affairs critic Carolynn Bennett said the bill was “racist” and “paternalistic.” Bennett said the government failed to consult with First Nations leaders before introducing the bill.
“I’m not sure what this bill is doing other than to sensationalize,” said Bennett.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation was quick to praise the bill.
“We’ve heard from a lot of grassroots band members that they are having trouble getting basic information such as how much their chief and council are getting paid,” said Colin Craig. “So it’s a good move to have transparency for politicians pay information.”
It was a report by the federation that created an uproar over chief and band council salaries last year. One band politician from Glooscap First Nation in Nova Scotia, pulled in nearly $1 million pay, according to the tax watchdog’s report.
The report found that 82 band chiefs and councillors made more than the prime minister’s $317,574 salary in 2008-2009. In Alberta, 47 chiefs and councillors made more than the prime minister that year.
First Nations chiefs passed a resolution agreeing to publish their salaries and expenses during an Assembly of First Nations meeting in Gatineau, Quebec, last December.
The resolution, however, also blasted Block’s bill, calling it “unnecessary” and “heavy-handed.”
nnIf the Conservative ever pass Bill C-27 Iu2019ll be surprised. nnnAs far as Iu2019m concern I think itu2019s all smoke and mirrors on the part ofnthe Conservatives. nnn
FINALLY a government that does something about the abuse which the First Nations Memberships across Canada have subjected to.nnIt would be good if the Liberals quit whining and making idiotic statements about something which is necessary and long overdue.nnFirst Nations Members, as well as Canadian taxpayers, will be surprised at how some of the leaders ‘pay’ themselves. u00a0Wait until you see the “FINDER’S FEES” They convinced the Memberships that they should take off the table on any investments they made using Membership money.nnWell done S. Harper. u00a0Nice to see a Prime Minister with a backbone. u00a0And the First Nation Memberships from coast to coast will thank you. u00a0
About Time!