The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded to the federal government’s First Nations Financial Transparency Act deadline today with both praise and disappointment.

The federal government has indicated that 509 of the nation’s 582 bands covered by the new transparency law have disclosed their pay and financial statements to their residents and the public – something municipal and provincial governments, as well as the federal government, have done for years.

“We started calling for this disclosure law back in 2009 so we’re glad the vast majority of aboriginal reserves are abiding by the new law,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “The disclosure of chief and council pay information and band financial statements will help band members hold their elected officials accountable and compare their community’s results with others.”

“It’s unfortunate that some chiefs and councillors are holding out and putting their desire to keep their pay details hidden ahead of the well-being of the people living in their communities,” added Craig. “We would like the federal government to indicate which bands have refused to disclose their information versus bands that are disorganized. And we expect appropriate action to be taken.”

So far, the new law has already proved its importance. A couple examples include:

• The discovery of Chief Ron Giesbrecht’s $800,000 "special deal." Not only were band members aghast after learning about the chief’s pay, fellow council member Marvin Joe told media that even he wouldn’t have known about the chief’s pay “if it wasn’t for this new transparency act.”
• The defeat of a husband-and-ex-wife (chief and councillor) duo from the Shuswap First Nation after band members learned the tiny reserve’s politicians had been making over $200,000 tax-free; more than Prime Minister Harper.

For some other ‘eyebrow-raising’ chief and council pay numbers – click here.