Onion Lake launches court action against financial transparency requirements

Onion Lake Cree Nation filed a statement of claim Nov. 26 in federal court challenging the Harper government’s requirement that First Nations make public their financial information. “We decided enough is enough,” said OLCN Chief Wallace Fox, at a news conference in Edmonton. “The mischaracterization of the monies owed to Indians as taxpayers’ money has led to racism against my people. We did not want to go to court, but Canada made the unilateral decision to withhold our monies that are in our capital account ….” As of Nov. 26, 509 of 582 bands had complied with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act requiring them to post audited financial statements and information about the salaries and expenses of chiefs and councillors on a public website by July 29. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt’s office would not comment on the Onion Lake court case. However, Valcourt did say that those First Nations who did not comply would see immediate funding cuts except in the areas of education or social services. The Globe and Mail reported that in an interview, Valcourt said only a handful of First Nations had stated they will not comply.