Financial transparency call heats up

Calls for greater financial transparency on reserves are heating up.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has learned that at least 30 band chiefs in Canada make more than the average premier.

The CTF requested the information over a year ago from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and only recently received the response.

“We've been receiving lots of calls from grass roots band members saying they have been having lots of trouble getting this type of audit information,” said Colin Craig, prairie director for CTF.

The range in salaries for chiefs in Canada went from zero to $247,000. The average premier salary is $109,893, after taxes.

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“Because the way the numbers were reported, those zeros could actually be substantially more and that's why we are calling on the Federal Government to give us the full data,” Craig said.

One Saskatchewan band cited in the report was Piapot First Nation.

In 2008-09 fiscal year, the chief made $108,902 – tax free.

The CTF is encouraging band members with concerns to go to their website reservetransparency.ca. There they can learn how to apply to the Federal Government for audit information.

Craig said that members of the Kawacatoose, Waterhen, Beardy's Okemasis and Cote First Nations have already submitted requests to the Federal Government.

The Taxpayer Federation is using the report to back up a private members bill introduced by Saskatoon MP Kelly Block.

Block is demanding more transparency of what chiefs are paid on reserve.

nmaxwell@rawlco.com