Native Slush Fund

EDITORIAL IN THE TORONTO SUN

When 82 First Nations chiefs and band councillors make more than the prime minister, all while many of their people live in abject poverty, something is horribly amiss.
It's not new, but it is amiss.
In Alberta alone, for example, 47 chiefs and councillors made more last year than the PM's $317,574.
We have serious reservations about that.
Now, since the money these chiefs and councillors pocket is grant money from taxpayers, auditing their books in search of ne'er-do-wells and misappropriated dollars would normally receive no political pushback.
But the Liberals need ink, don't they?  They're a political embarrassment in search of some buzz.
So, looking for a headline grabber, along comes Liberal aboriginal affairs critic Carolyn Bennett to label the newly-introduced First Nations Transparency Act -- Bill C-27 -- a "racist" and "paternalistic" piece of legislation.
Well done, Ms. Bennett. There's your news hit.
Now please go away.
There is absolutely nothing "racist" or "paternalistic" about Bill C-27, a vital and long-overdue piece of legislation that deserves quick passage so that all Canada will finally get to know down which hole the billions in First Nations' grant money goes.
From the outside looking in, and this is what raises many hackles, it would appear that too many chiefs and not enough Indians are living the good life on the taxpayers' dime.
Bill C-27 should clear up the mess.
Much like the CBC vs. the Taxpayer, First Nations band members deserve transparency and accountability from their elected officials, and they are not getting it when their leaders refuse to come clean with where the government's money goes, or how much goes into their own pockets.
What is "racist" about that?
So, due to this fiasco at Attawapiskat, and many other reserves too, the Government is looked at as being the fall guy. Everyone wants the Head of Aboriginal Affairs' head. They ALL say that there isn't enough money being put into the reserves ( an obvious lack of research being done by the "Royal Opposition"-Royal? WHAT a joke!). Just more political hay trying to be made by the left, with NO REAL facts to support their innerant claims.