Charmaine Stick takes care of six kids. She also reads financial documents to keep an eye on her local government because “what else would she do at home all day?” But she can’t find out how much her band chief is paid. Her chief cites treaty rights as a reason to avoid transparency, but she says accountability to the community is an essential part of First Nations culture.
Ms. Stick lives on Onion Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan. More than 93 per cent of Canadian First Nations have complied with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act (FNFTA) and disclosed basic financial information such as the salaries of chiefs and councils. Onion Lake refused to provide this transparency and fought the government in court. Now Ms. Stick may have a longer wait for answers because of a recent decision made by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett.
“In keeping with our commitment to a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship, the Government of Canada will suspend any court actions against First Nations who have not complied with the Act,” said Minister Bennett in a written statement. She went on to add that “transparency and accountability are paramount to any government, whether it is municipal, provincial, federal or First Nation.”
The legislation allows the government to withhold non-essential funding from unaccountable bands, but Minister Bennett is now giving up that enforcement mechanism. Minister Bennett buried her statement on a Friday afternoon before Christmas to avoid tough questions from reporters for good reason.
The Globe and Mail defined the issue early.
“The FNFTA is essential for responsible government,” stated the Globe and Mail editorial board back on Aug. 19. “The governed always need to know what the governors are up to.”
“It is a critical and overdue measure of accountability: in common with other politicians in Canada, aboriginal chiefs cannot properly be accountable to the people they represent if their finances are not open to scrutiny,” echoed the National Post editorial pages on Sept. 2.
“The Liberals came to power promising more open, transparent governance,” concluded the Toronto Star’s editorial on Dec. 21. “That should go for Ottawa and First Nations alike. No exceptions.”
Canada’s media stalwarts are not the only sources of support for First Nations accountability.
“Transparency is a logical idea,” wrote First Nations author Richard Wagamece in First Nations Drum. “Why not show Canadians how well we can manage our own affairs?”
There are, of course, those opposed to the legislation.
“First Nations fully support accountability but Bill C-27 [FNFTA] is a flawed piece of legislation that does not respect our rights and must be repealed,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde. “[Minister Bennett’s] announcement gives us an opportunity to work together on a better approach where First Nations are accountable to their citizens first.”
Others have a more blunt opinion.
“It’s always about this discrimination and sorry to say, for me it’s racism,” said Chief Wallace Fox of Onion Lake. “It’s discriminatory legislation because no other race is subject to this legislation in Canada except Indian people.”
Chief Fox ignores the simple fact that the need for accountability is universal and elected leaders around the world publish their salaries.
Here’s the simple reality: Ms. Stick doesn’t know how much Chief Fox is getting paid. She is, however, well aware that the average income for people living in Onion Lake is $17,528. Accountable government is critical to improving life for Ms Stick and her family.
As the minister responsible, Minister Bennett has access to answers that are hidden from Ms. Stick. Notwithstanding Minister Bennett’s commitment to an improved nation-to-nation relationship, she cannot keep those answers hidden forever. Ms. Stick must not be left waiting in the dark.
Todd MacKay is the Prairie Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
This column was originally ran on the Globe and Mail website on Jan. 8, 2016
