The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released documents today showing Saskatchewan’s most outspoken chief against the federal government’s new reserve transparency law made more than Premier Brad Wall in 2011-12.

Back in March 2013, when the federal government passed Bill C-27, championed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, requiring all reserves to disclose their chief and council’s salaries annually, Onion Lake First Nation Chief Wallace Fox spoke out against the move. A March 28 Star Phoenix article suggests Chief Fox claimed he already disclosed financial details to band members.

However, Onion Lake band member Leo Paul told the CTF he had to obtain his chief and council’s pay information from the federal government as his band office has refused such disclosure in the past.

“My reserve is a good example of why it was important for the federal government to pass the reserve transparency bill,” said Paul. “Band members in my community often have a hard time getting their hands on financial information. Thankfully we’ll soon be able to see the info anonymously on the federal government website.”

“It’s pretty clear why Chief Fox doesn’t like the transparency bill,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “His community only has about 3,283 people, yet he made more than Premier Brad Wall in 2011, a politician who serves over one million people.”

* As income earned on reserve is income tax free for Status Indians, this calculation estimates what the pay would be for someone off reserve and paying income taxes using Ernst and Young’s online tax calculator.

In 2011, Premier Brad Wall was paid $154,247 from the Saskatchewan government plus an additional $37,000 top-up from the Sask Party for a total of $191,247.

To see the community’s chief and council pay information – click here

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