Sounds Timely
The parliamentary secretary for Aboriginal Affairs is set to introduce "an Act to enhance the financial accountability and transparency of First Nations". Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan was prepared to speak to the details of the bill in Saskatchewan. This will result in legislation reflecting a private member's bill that died when the writ was dropped back in March of last year.
Henceforth, if it becomes law, First Nations will be required to publish details of the chiefs' and councillors' salaries and reimbursements for expenses. The data is to be provided in annual audited financial statements. Those statements available to anyone who might be interested in them. And that would most certainly include the very people whom the chiefs and the councillors are responsible to; tribal members.
Through this newly-enacted legislation should the chiefs and councillors decide not to release the information for public scrutiny, the Minister would then have legal authority to himself release the information. This bill is on schedule to be re-introduced to the legislature. The Assembly of First Nations considers this to be gross interference.
On the other hand, any enquiries relating to anything about aboriginals, their entitlements, and the activities of the Assembly of First Nations, let alone the manner in which band executives spend funding allocated to them, is resisted by the AFN.
When the Canadian Taxpayers Federation released their report last fall detailing salaries of hundreds of chiefs and band councillors it unleashed a storm of controversy. The report described 600 chiefs and band councillors earning over $100,000 in 2008-09, representing salaries, travel expenses and per diems.
There were 21 leaders who earned more annually than provincial premiers. The resulting accusations and counter-accusations gave the AFN food for thought about accountability. Chiefs from across the country chose unanimously to endorse a motion that band finances be made more transparent. Unfortunately, this was a non-binding, purely elective motion.
Given the general reluctance of disclosure on a voluntary basis, it's past time for the bill on financial accountability to become law.
Henceforth, if it becomes law, First Nations will be required to publish details of the chiefs' and councillors' salaries and reimbursements for expenses. The data is to be provided in annual audited financial statements. Those statements available to anyone who might be interested in them. And that would most certainly include the very people whom the chiefs and the councillors are responsible to; tribal members.
Through this newly-enacted legislation should the chiefs and councillors decide not to release the information for public scrutiny, the Minister would then have legal authority to himself release the information. This bill is on schedule to be re-introduced to the legislature. The Assembly of First Nations considers this to be gross interference.
On the other hand, any enquiries relating to anything about aboriginals, their entitlements, and the activities of the Assembly of First Nations, let alone the manner in which band executives spend funding allocated to them, is resisted by the AFN.
When the Canadian Taxpayers Federation released their report last fall detailing salaries of hundreds of chiefs and band councillors it unleashed a storm of controversy. The report described 600 chiefs and band councillors earning over $100,000 in 2008-09, representing salaries, travel expenses and per diems.
There were 21 leaders who earned more annually than provincial premiers. The resulting accusations and counter-accusations gave the AFN food for thought about accountability. Chiefs from across the country chose unanimously to endorse a motion that band finances be made more transparent. Unfortunately, this was a non-binding, purely elective motion.
Given the general reluctance of disclosure on a voluntary basis, it's past time for the bill on financial accountability to become law.
posted by Pieface | 7:52 PM
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