By Nigel Maxwell

First Nations face funding freeze for not complying with transparency regs

Nov 26, 2014 | 6:09 AM

The clock is ticking for 80 First Nations in Canada which have not yet complied with the federal government’s Financial Transparency Act.

All 80, including 14 from Saskatchewan, have until the end of Wednesday to submit their financial information to the government so it can be published online.

“The act is clear, if a First Nation chooses not to conform, they expose themselves to those administrative measures that can be taken,” said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt.

He said those measures include freezing funding or court action. Valcourt is suggesting no leniency for lateness.

“I am going to act quickly. I will not hesitate to withhold funding the day after; and I will not hesitate to go to court as soon as that process allows me to,” he said.

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Valcourt said all First Nations have been given ample time to comply.

The original deadline was the end of July, however the government extended the deadline by an extra 120 days.

“As a member of a First Nation I cannot see why a chief or council would oppose its membership being informed of how those financial resources that they draw at the band council level, are spent,” said Valcourt.

He added the membership should not only have a say in how the federal dollars are spent but also should know how the chief and council manage those funds.

Some First Nations have spoken out publicly about resisting the act. They say it is a breach of their historic treaty relationship with Ottawa.

Both the Liberals and the NDP have spoken out in support of the bands resisting the act.

Valcourt said the vast majority of chiefs are responsible who recognizes the act benefits their community and their membership.

“We have a few who have come out saying categorically that they would not comply with the act — well for those we will go get court orders and pull fund until they respect the law,” he said.

.nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell