Financial transparency already in place for chiefs

First Nation leaders support the spirit of a private members bill aimed at publicly disclosing their salaries and expenses, but they don’t support the bill itself.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy said he supports the need for accountability and transparency between First Nations and its members. He said its one of the reasons NAN distributes its financial audit on an annual basis. However, Beardy does not support legislation introduced by the federal government that will only increase the “reporting burden on our communities.”
“Rather, there should be a targeted approach toward mutual accountability between governments and citizens – and one that supports strong First Nation governments,” Beardy said.
Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar MP Kelly Block introduced the private members bill, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, Oct. 1.
She said salaries and expenses paid to First Nation chiefs and councillors should be publicly disclosed like those of other elected representatives in Canada.
Under terms of the bill, chiefs and councillors would be responsible for disclosing their salaries and expenses publicly. This could be done through an annual report or annual general meeting of community members, she said.
The statements would be audited and published on the Indian Affairs website.
Kasabonika Lake Chief Eno H. Anderson said leadership in his community is upfront about their salaries and expenses.
“We’re audited every year,” Anderson said. “The annual report to community members includes all this information.
“I agree, the membership has a right to know the salaries. We’ve been doing that for at least 10 years.”
Kingfisher Lake Chief James Mamakwa was split on the merits of the bill.
“I’m not against it,” he said. “But I’m not sure it is a good idea.
“No one has come up and asked me what my salary is. But it is listed in our audit.”
The Assembly of First Nations has come out against the bill, calling it “ill-conceived.”
The bill will cause additional burden on First Nations already required to file thousands of reports annually, said National Chief Shawn Atleo.
The bill “appears to be part of a troubling series of insinuations about First Nations peoples, based on misinformation and a lack of understanding as to what the real accountability issues are,” Atleo said in a statement.