Government pushes ahead with transparency legislation

Legislation announced by the federal government that calls for transparency and accountability from First Nations chiefs has been met with mixed reaction by those it targets.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo said that there is no disagreement with the concept, however.
“What First Nations support and are committed to are the principles of transparency and accountability to their citizens,” he said.

At the AFN Special Chiefs Assembly in December 2010, the First Nation Governments Demonstrating Accountability resolution was passed. The resolution read that chiefs would “lead by example…(by) providing clear and timely access to audits and public accounts; itemizing and publicly disclosing salaries, honoraria and expenses associated with the operations of Chief and Council; and, ensuring information about community finances and decision-making is easily accessible, and available via the internet where applicable.”

The resolution also stated that Bill C-575, the First Nations Fiscal Transparency Act, which was being discussed at that time, was “both unnecessary and heavy handed.”

Those are words that Atleo is reiterating.

“On process, the pattern that we have is the Indian Act was unilateral, residential schools were unilateral, the vast bulk of legislation that impacts First Nations has been unilateral. Ottawa knows best and Ottawa will decide for you,” Atleo said about government’s mindset.
The Indian Act, he said, calls for accountability between First Nations and the federal government.

“What I think (and) everyone is agreeing is that there needs to be transparency and accountability on business as well as financial matters between a government and their citizens and that means moving beyond the Indian Act or beyond the way the Indian Act works,” said Atleo.
However, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is not opposed to the federal government’s move.
Saskatoon Rosetown Biggar MP Kelly Block is credited with initiating the idea which she introduced as a private members bill. The announcement of Bill C-27, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, was made by Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada Minister John Duncan, with Block, at the Dakota Whitecap First Nation.

“This type of accountability would help identify the gaps that need to be addressed,” said FSIN Vice-Chief Morley Watson in a statement. He added that the bill would allow the public to take notice of the amount of money that actually makes it to the communities to be used by chief and council.

Atleo said he learned about the legislation through Twitter. The fact that the AFN was not consulted continues “a pattern of (the government) developing legislation by and large in isolation of working with First Nations.”

The push to disclose chiefs’ salaries came in early 2010 when the Canadian Taxpayers Federation was approached by “concerned whistle blowers” to take up the issue, Scott Hennig, Alberta director with the federation, told Windspeaker at the time.

The Frontier Centre for Public Policy came out in support of the push for disclosure when the federation broached the subject and launched a Web site, as the federation put it, to “help you know your rights and how to receive information.”

“As much as possible (salary) information should be able to be published, but they still need to be respectful of private business dealings,” said Joseph Quesnel, a policy analyst with the Frontier Centre.

Atleo said it is up to chiefs and their members to determine whether or not chiefs and councils need to disclose their salaries.