McKay among top two Chiefs for salaries

According to information filed with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Fort McKay First Nation Chief Jim Boucher collected the second highest salary in Canada at $644,441. Only Chief Ron Giesbrecht, of the Kwikwetlem First Nation at $914,219, earned more during the time period from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014. Other northeastern Chiefs Steve Courtoreille of the Mikisew Cree First Nation earned $110,601 and Ronald Kreutzer of Fort McMurray First Nation earned $156,000 in that same time period. Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation did not file its financial audited statement with AANDC. The Fort McKay First Nation received approximately $2.5 million in funding from the federal government, representing less than four per cent of the band’s $70 million budget for 2014. The financial year ended with a $3 million surplus and an accumulated operating surplus of almost $189 million.