And the Prize Goes to....

The Teddy awards have been distributed. Named in honour of Ted Weatherill, formerly with the Canada Labour Relations Board as chairman, fired in 1999 after a scandalous submission of questionable expense, the Teddy awards annually give recognition to the waste of Canadian tax dollars. By highlighting the activities and/or behaviour of individuals or groups who exemplify scandal and waste.

And this year, the outstanding champion of waste and entitlement of the 15th annual national Teddy award -- Roger Redman, chief of Standing Buffalo First Nation! Will Roger Redman please stand and acknowledge his honoured position as chief-in-greed-plenipotentiary!

Mr. Redman is the Saskatchewan First Nations chief presiding over a reserve of 443 people who has a take-home income in excess of that of the Prime Minister of Canada. But Mr. Redman is not a greedy man on his own; his councillors at the Standing Buffalo First Nation reserve each take home salaries in excess of the premier of their province.

Mr. Redman has a salary for his onerous and responsible position of $194,737, and it should be emphasized that this is an untaxed salary, since Mr. Redman lives on a First Nations reserve. Its value, therefore is far more than merely $194,737. Strangely enough, the financial situation of the Standing Buffalo First Nation reserve is one of fiscal restraint.

The reserve is struggling to maintain social services; it's broke.

In January band members decided to impeach the chief. He took the precaution of padlocking the band office and community centre. And also confiscated the band's chequebook. A legal battle is also underway over elections called for March 16. Because locks had been changed on the band's community centre, elders were forced to hold nominations out in the cold.

Chief Redman insists that the elections are illegal. The band elders insist otherwise, determined to hold elections and to get their community back in working order, able to pay for the necessities that the residents now lack, for they cannot afford both those necessities and the munificent salaries paid out to Chief Redman and band councillors.