The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released chief and council pay data today for the Makwa Sahgiehcan First Nation after a band member indicated they were denied such information from the band office.

Theresa Otuskeepewisk, a band member from the First Nation, indicated that when she received the band’s audit report, the pages with chief and council pay information were missing. Otuskeepewisk then requested, and received, the full 2009-10 and 2010-11 audit reports from the federal government.

“Band members and taxpayers should have the right to know how much all politicians, regardless of race, are receiving in pay,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “We’ve posted this information on our web site because there seems to have been an attempt to keep band members in the dark. We look forward to the government passing bill C-27 which would post pay information online for all reserves in Canada.”

“I’m disappointed that my band wouldn’t provide me with basic information such as the amount our chief and council are paid,” said Otuskeepewisk. “Thankfully the federal government released the information to me.”

The audit documents show the average councillor for the tiny community of 942 people made $83,343 tax free or approximately the equivalent of $120,000 for someone living off reserve and paying income tax. The Chief received $80,000, but media reports suggest an additional $68,794 was paid to him through the Saskatchewan Indian and Gaming Authority. $148,794 tax free works out to approximately $235,000 for someone off reserve. It is not clear how much of the gaming funds represent travel costs.

The reserve pay figures do not include funds received from the “travel” column on the pay spreadsheet. Some reserves report both pay and travel expenses in that column (eg. pay for going to a meeting plus hotel bill, etc.) while others strictly report travel expenses (hotel bill, airfare, etc.) The average Makwa Sahgiehcan band council member received $22,776 in the travel column for 2010-11.

“Considering so many homes are mouldy and falling apart, it’s troubling to see such high politician salaries in our community,” added Otuskeepewisk.

Craig praised the department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs for handing the information over in a timely manner.

“In the past we’ve heard band members tell us that it took a long time before the federal government handed the information over,” said Craig. “It was great to hear the information was handed over within a week.”

The chief and council pay reports for 2009-10 and 2010-11 can be viewed here:
/media/MAKWA COUNCIL PAY.pdf 

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Added: Pictures of homes from the Makwa reserve: