New findings detail earnings of First Nations politicians

By JASON HALSTEAD, Winnipeg Sun

Financial data made public by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Monday show more than 82 First Nations politicians across the country earned more than the prime minister in 2008 and 2009, while 222 earned more than the premiers in their respective provinces.

The most recent financial data expand on information released by the CTF last month that laid bare chiefs’ earnings.

Colin Craig, Prairies director of the CTF, said the chiefs’ salary data was startling enough, but said the complete picture of band council salaries and additional income from band-owned enterprises even more strongly underscores the need for transparency.

“The figures are shocking in many instances,” he said. “There are many reserve politicians across the country earning way more than the prime minister despite serving communities that are a few hundred to a couple thousand people.”

Craig said the data reveal some appallingly high salaries. In the most extreme instance, a politician on an Atlantic Canada reserve with a population of just 304 people earned a total annual tax-free income of $978,468, which would be the equivalent of a taxable income of almost $1.8 million.

The financial data released by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada did not identify chiefs or councillors by name, nor did it name First Nations.

Craig said the financial data show the need for Tory MP Kelly Block’s private member’s bill before Parliament, which would publicize online the salaries First Nations politicians receive through federal funding.

“Now everyone’s wondering who these individuals are who are filling their pockets,” Craig said. “Transparency is the first step. Beyond that, I think there are going to be a lot of outraged band members when they find out what’s going on. These dollars are meant to give a hand up to people in the community.”

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Ron Evans said it’s ultimately up to band members to hold their political leaders accountable to set reasonable salaries, but admitted he was troubled by the newly released numbers.

“It’s very disturbing that salaries could be as high as what has been reported when the majority of the leadership are making an average of $60,000 per year,” Evans said. “It really paints a negative picture when there are many chiefs making good efforts to provide the best leadership for their communities.”

Evans said the AMC’s executive council of chiefs has passed a resolution urging membership to disclose salaries and expenses to band members, something that is already mandated under INAC rules.

holly golightly wrote:I wonder if what Ron Evans is stating as $60,000 is only the actual money that is taken in by the chief (deposited to bank account) and what the CTF is taking into account is all of the other expenses that would show on a T4 for any other person, such as the chief's home, utilities, personal expenses like groceries, phone, etc as well as vehicle(s) payments, gas, travel and any other monetary expense that you could receive a receipt for to submit. Basically a chief and his family can claim anything that is receiptable, that could add up to $300,000 per year.

holly golightly wrote:But they put in claims for payment of items, such as utilities, cell phone bills, gas, vehicle payments etc. This type of claim would/could show up on any tax paying person's T4 as taxable "income" even though it was not actual "money in the bank" to the chief. This is where,if all receipts were added to the actual "cash in the bank" could/would show as the chief "making" (stealing) $300,000 a year in "salary" (tax payer's money).