The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) called on Liberal leader Justin Trudeau today to reconsider his recent commitment to abolish the new First Nations Financial Transparency Act; a law the CTF started pushing for back in 2009 along with grassroots aboriginal Canadians. (Photo Justin Trudeau Wikipedia/A.K. Fung)
The new law requires elected band council politicians to do what municipal, provincial and federal politicians have had to do for years – disclose their pay to the public. The legislation also requires aboriginal communities to post their band’s financial statements online; just like other governments in Canada currently do.
“We have heard some very heartbreaking tales from people on reserves who have been bullied, harassed and assaulted for daring to ask questions about where public funds are going in their communities,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “The new First Nations Financial Transparency Act allows them to go on the Internet and view their community’s financial statements anonymously, without fear of reprisal.”
Marvin Joe, former chief and current band council member of the Kwikwetlem First Nation in British Columbia told the National Post that nobody, not even the Kwikwetlem band council, would have known Chief Giesbrecht received an extra $800,000 bonus: “…if it wasn’t for this new transparency act, I don’t think we ever would have known.”
“We urge Mr. Trudeau to reconsider his position,” added Craig. “Of all the issues to try and score political points on the Harper government this is not the one. There are too many grassroots people living on reserves who are depending on this legislation.”
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