After pushing for disclosure of Chief and Council pay disclosure, and annual band audited financial statements since 2009, the CTF is pleased to see the docs are finally being posted online!

Disclosure of such info is a basic component of any democracy. Kudos to the Harper government for listening. 

For those looking to take a closer look at the info posted, here are a couple thoughts/useful links...

START HERE:

This is the page you want to start on. From here you can drill down into any aboriginal community in Canada and find all kinds of info - 

http://pse5-esd5.ainc-inac.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/SearchFF.aspx?lang=eng

Beside each community's name you'll see "FNFTA" - click on it, then click "OK" and you'll either find the community's financial info is posted or a "not yet posted" message. The latter obviously means the bureaucrats haven't had a chance to scan and post the info yet or the band hasn't handed it in yet. Remember, the deadline was yesterday (July 29). New docs seem to be posted each hour.

BY COMPARISON:

Keep in mind that the pay figures you see are almost always tax-free. To figure out what that works out to for someone off reserve and paying income taxes, try using this EY Income tax calculator (formerly Ernst and Young).

http://www.ey.com/ca/en/services/tax/tax-calculators-2014-personal-tax

To find out the community's population, instead of clicking on "FNFTA," click on the band's name and then on the "Registered Pop." That link will provide you with an on reserve/off reserve population breakdown.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER POLITICIANS?:

Some claim aboriginal politicians are being held to a higher standard. That's nonsense. Politicians off reserves have had their pay posted and available to the public for years. Now aboriginal politicians are being brought in-line with such disclosure. For example:

Federal MPs - click here
Provincial Politicians - click here (Manitoba example)
Municipal Politicians - click here (Assortment of Manitoba examples)

However, even with the disclosure of aboriginal politicians' pay, we still don't know much about their travel expenses. In some cases bands record travel expenses as straight up reimbursement for expenses. However, other bands will sometimes include per diems in this category as well - like if you were paid $250 per day to attend a conference. Thus, there's still room for improvement. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF BANDS DON'T POST THE INFO?:

The federal government has the authority to cut back or withhold funding.

WHO HAS POSTED:

July 29 was the deadline for band's to hand their financial info in to the federal government. There is likely an army of bureaucrats reviewing documents and scanning them as we speak...err type. In the mean time, it's a bit like a needle in a haystack to find info...but here are 125 or so that we know are posted so far:

BRITISH COLUMBIA: 
Adams Lake 
Alexis Creek
Ashcroft 
Canim Lake
Cheslatta Carrier
Dzawada'nuxw 
Gwawaenuk
Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw 
Haisla
Kanaka Bar
Katzie
Kitasoo
Klahoose 
Kwakiutl
Kwantlen 
Kwadacha 
Kwikwetlem
Lower Kootenay 
Lower Similkameen
Lyackson 
Lytton
Moricetown 
Mount Currie 
Musqueam 
Nadlehwhuten
Nak'azdli
Nanoose 
Nee-Tahi-Buhn
Neskonlith 
Okanagan 
Old Massett 
Osoyoos 
Pauquachin 
Prophet River
Qualicum 
Quatsino – fin. statements only 
Samahquam 
Seton Lake
Shxw'ow'hamel
Simpcw 
Siska 
Snuneymuxw 
Seabird Island 
Shackan 
Shawahlook 
Skeetchestn 
Skwah 
Sliammon 
Soda Creek 
Soowahlie 
Splatsin
Spuzzum
St. Mary's 
Stellat'en 
Sts'ailes 
Stswecem'c 
Stz'uminus
Sumas
Tk'emlups 
Tlatlasikwala
Tsartlip 
Tsleil-Waututh
Tzeachten 
Whispering Pines/Clinton 
Williams Lake 
Xeni Gwe'in – fin. statements only 
Xgat'tem
Yunest'in

ALBERTA:
Alexis Nakota Sioux
Alexander
Dene Tha'
Driftpile
Fort McMurray
Kapawe'no
Little Red River Cree Nation
Louis Bull
O'Chiese
Peerless Trout
Piikani Little
Samson
Smith's Landing
Swan River
Tallcree

SASKATCHEWAN: 
Big River
Cumberland House Cree Nation
George Gordon
Kahkewistahaw
Kinistin Saulteaux Nation
Mistawasis
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation
Pheasant Rump
Piapot
Saulteaux
Standing Buffalo
Sweetgrass
Thunderchild – fin. Statements only
White Bear

MANITOBA:
Black River
Buffalo Point
Gamblers
Keeseekoowenin
Lake Manitoba
Mathias Colomb
Rolling River

ONTARIO:
Atikameksheng Anishnawbek - Only fin. statements
Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek
Deer Lake
Lac La Croix
Michipicoten
Mississauga 
Mississauga's of Scugog Island First Nation - Only financial statements
Moravian of the Thames
Poplar River
Sagamok Anishnawbek
Temagami

QUEBEC:
Conseil des Atikamekw de Wemotaci
Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg
La Nation Micmac de Gespeg
Montagnais du Lac St.-Jean
Mohawks of Kahnawá:ke
Nation Huronne Wendat
Première Nation Malecite de Viger

ATLANTIC:
St. Mary's

YUKON:
Taku River Tlingit