If the following is true we should bombard our MP's demanding accountability and change.
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?
Now, you may have never heard of the Glooscap First Nation reserve in Nova Scotia but you might be interested to know that one Mi'kmaq politician there pulled in almost $1 million in pay in 2010, while band councillors each earned between $210,000 and $260,000. Now, close your eyes and try to envision just how big the Glooscap First Nation must be to warrant such mammoth salaries. Give up? Well, in 2009, the population actually living on the reserve was 87. We didn't drop any zeroes.
Ed Schultz, P. Ag. Sherwood Park, Alberta tel. 780-464-7205 cel. 780-919-6527
Greed and corruption are universal human concerns, so the safeguards developed to deal with them (fiscal responsibility and accountability, financial audits, open process, etc.) must be applied among first nations, as among all other nations. All Canadians need to demand that our politicians get together and deal with these matters in a serious, non-partisan way.
The underlying problem, however, is with the political process in Ottawa. We reward our politicians for rancour, misrepresentation, slander, rudeness, etc., and then find they have little time for thoughtful, responsible, measured discussion, and working together. Until we stop rewarding the nations top politicians for their misbehaviour, we can hardly expect them to have the political will or moral authority to deal with the misbehaviour of even lesser politicians.
Glooscap recently held an election. The person who won (I don't remember her name) ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility AND, get this, she was going to only take a salary that was approved of by the Band MEMBERS. She WON! Good for her. At last report, she was following through with her promises. Hmmm, imagine that. True democracy on a Reserve. Who'd of thunk it?
I agree that some politicians have not conducted business in an ethical manner. Governing of the populace in Canada has still been carried out in a Democratic (a person can argue as to how this was done, but I'll leave this point alone for now) way. Unfortunately even though some Politicians are not good role models, this should not completely affect Band councils decisions to totally abandon residents on the reserve.
Subject: Fw: Where does it go?
ReplyDeleteIf the following is true we should bombard our MP's demanding accountability and change.
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?
Now, you may have never heard of the Glooscap First Nation reserve in Nova Scotia but you might be interested to know that one Mi'kmaq politician there pulled in almost $1 million in pay in 2010, while band councillors each earned between $210,000 and $260,000.
Now, close your eyes and try to envision just how big the Glooscap First Nation must be to warrant such mammoth salaries.
Give up? Well, in 2009, the population actually living on the reserve was 87.
We didn't drop any zeroes.
Ed Schultz, P. Ag.
Sherwood Park, Alberta
tel. 780-464-7205
cel. 780-919-6527
Greed and corruption are universal human concerns, so the safeguards developed to deal with them (fiscal responsibility and accountability, financial audits, open process, etc.) must be applied among first nations, as among all other nations. All Canadians need to demand that our politicians get together and deal with these matters in a serious, non-partisan way.
ReplyDeleteThe underlying problem, however, is with the political process in Ottawa. We reward our politicians for rancour, misrepresentation, slander, rudeness, etc., and then find they have little time for thoughtful, responsible, measured discussion, and working together. Until we stop rewarding the nations top politicians for their misbehaviour, we can hardly expect them to have the political will or moral authority to deal with the misbehaviour of even lesser politicians.
Glooscap recently held an election. The person who won (I don't remember her name) ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility AND, get this, she was going to only take a salary that was approved of by the Band MEMBERS. She WON! Good for her. At last report, she was following through with her promises. Hmmm, imagine that. True democracy on a Reserve. Who'd of thunk it?
ReplyDeleteI agree that some politicians have not conducted business in an ethical manner. Governing of the populace in Canada has still been carried out in a Democratic (a person can argue as to how this was done, but I'll leave this point alone for now) way. Unfortunately even though some Politicians are not good role models, this should not completely affect Band councils decisions to totally abandon residents on the reserve.