Jaw-dropping numbers!
Good Day Readers:
Last month the Conservative Member of Parliament for Saskatoon - Rosetown - Biggar, Kelly Block, introduced a private members bill (Bill C-575) which, if passed, would make the salaries of Chiefs and Band Councils on Canadian Reservations internet accessible thereby streamlining the process. Reference Bill seeks First Nations financial reporting - CBC News (below).
New jaw-dropping reserve pay numbers By Colin Craig/November 22, 2010
Previous data obtained by the CTF was based on partial information from the federal government. Data obtained and released today by the CTF is based on much more complete federal data.
Reserve Politicians' Pay Highlights
British Columbia
Average Reserve Population = 639
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 1
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 3
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable equivalent) = 63
Alberta
Average Reserve Population = 2,217
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 32
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 52
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable qeuivalent) = 187
Saskatchewan
Average Reserve Population = 1,659
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 2
Politicians with pay greater than Premier =43
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable qeuivalent) = 120
Manitoba
Average Reserve Population = 1,279
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 5
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 20
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable equivalent) = 110
Ontario
Average Reserve Population = 1,374
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 1
Politicians with pay greater than premier = 8
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxible equivalent) = 57
Quebec
Average Reserve Population = 1,741
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 0
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 3
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable equivalent) = 28
Atlantic
Average Reserve Population = 897
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 9
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 31
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 taxable equivalent) = 69
Totals
Average Total Reserve Population = 1,142*
Total Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 50
Total Politicians with pay greater than Premier 160
Total Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable equivalent) = 634
* Population of average reserve in Canada
* CORRECTION: On November 24, the CTF was informed by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs that they had a "formatting issue" and released incorrect totals for chiefs' pay in both Alberta and British Columbia. Based on revisions to their data, the CTF has estimated new figures for those two provinces. Please be advised that numbers in the unnamed column in those two provincial tables should be reduced from printed totals.
“The numbers confirm what we’ve been saying all along,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “Many reserve politicians are paying themselves exorbitant salaries while keeping their band members and taxpayers in the dark. This is exactly why we’ve been calling for transparency and reform.”
Shockingly, one band councillor at a 304 resident reserve in Atlantic Canada was paid $978,468 tax free in 2008-09 (equivalent to about $1.8 million off reserve).
“Posting band politicians’ salary information online would not only remove the cloud of suspicion around band politicians that aren’t taking advantage of the situation, it would help band members hold their politicians accountable,” added Craig. “Frustrated taxpayers and band members need to contact Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Layton’s to tell them to support bill C-575 as it would require such disclosure.”
The CTF has recently confirmed with the federal government that if MP Kelly Block’s private members bill C-575 passes, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs would place pay amounts that reserve politicians receive with federal dollars on the internet. However, as that would not disclose pay received from band-owned enterprises (eg. casinos, gas stations), the CTF is calling for an amendment to the bill to require all pay data be placed online.
Note: although the federal data released today does not include names, media outlets and taxpayers could try to investigate the anonymous salary amounts by using the reserve population figures listed in each row. Those figures could be cross referenced with the reserve population figures on the federal government’s reserve profile’s web page (click here) to determine which communities they could belong to.
__________________________________________________
Bill seeks First Nations financial reporting
Saturday, October 2, 2010CBC News
A Saskatchewan MP is proposing a federal law that would require the release of salaries and expenses of all First Nations chiefs and council members.
Conservative Kelly Block, who represents Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, tabled the private member's bill on Friday.
"The purpose of this bill is … to ensure that public funds that are flowing to First Nations elected officials are publicly disclosed," Block told CBC News from her constituency Saturday.
There is an existing process for First Nations band members to request financial information from their leaders, Block said. If those requests are not met, the federal minister responsible may release the information.
Block said her bill would simplify the process and make disclosure automatic instead of going through "a bit of an onerous process."
She added that many First Nations already provide regular reports of their finances. Some are proactive and release material as soon as possible. Others release information on request.
"But there are those that don't," Block said. "What this bill will do is ensure that … an individual wouldn't even have to ask for it. It would be disclosed in an annual report to the community."
Block said she did not conduct formal consultations prior to introducing the bill, but believes many First Nations leaders would support the move.
"I have made an effort to build relationships with First Nations chiefs and council members," she said. "But I did not specifically consult with them on this bill."
Block's bill, C-575, must go through a number of parliamentary stages before it becomes law. It is relatively rare for private member's bills to be successfully enacted.
Last month the Conservative Member of Parliament for Saskatoon - Rosetown - Biggar, Kelly Block, introduced a private members bill (Bill C-575) which, if passed, would make the salaries of Chiefs and Band Councils on Canadian Reservations internet accessible thereby streamlining the process. Reference Bill seeks First Nations financial reporting - CBC News (below).
Since then the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has taken up the cause on its website with a detailed analysis of Chief and Band Council salaries on reservations (New jaw-dropping reserve pay numbers), problem is, for this private members bill to pass in parliament it will require the support of Opposition Leaders Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton and Gilles Ducippe hence their peition www.taxpayer.com/node/13451.
And, yes, the CTF is right the numbers are truly jaw-dropping.
Sincerely/Clare L. Pieuk
_________________________________________________
New jaw-dropping reserve pay numbers By Colin Craig/November 22, 2010
- Approximately 50 reserve politicians paid more than prime minister in 2008-09
- Approxoximately 160 reserve politicians paid more than their respective premiers in 2008-09
- Over 600 received an income that is equivalent to over $100,000 off reserve
- One Atlantic Canada reserve politician paid $978,468 tax free in 2008-09 (equivalent to about $1.8 million off reserve)
Previous data obtained by the CTF was based on partial information from the federal government. Data obtained and released today by the CTF is based on much more complete federal data.
Reserve Politicians' Pay Highlights
British Columbia
Average Reserve Population = 639
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 1
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 3
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable equivalent) = 63
Alberta
Average Reserve Population = 2,217
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 32
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 52
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable qeuivalent) = 187
Saskatchewan
Average Reserve Population = 1,659
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 2
Politicians with pay greater than Premier =43
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable qeuivalent) = 120
Manitoba
Average Reserve Population = 1,279
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 5
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 20
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable equivalent) = 110
Ontario
Average Reserve Population = 1,374
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 1
Politicians with pay greater than premier = 8
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxible equivalent) = 57
Quebec
Average Reserve Population = 1,741
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 0
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 3
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable equivalent) = 28
Atlantic
Average Reserve Population = 897
Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 9
Politicians with pay greater than Premier = 31
Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 taxable equivalent) = 69
Totals
Average Total Reserve Population = 1,142*
Total Politicians with pay greater than Prime Minister = 50
Total Politicians with pay greater than Premier 160
Total Politicians with pay greater than $100,000 (taxable equivalent) = 634
* Population of average reserve in Canada
* CORRECTION: On November 24, the CTF was informed by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs that they had a "formatting issue" and released incorrect totals for chiefs' pay in both Alberta and British Columbia. Based on revisions to their data, the CTF has estimated new figures for those two provinces. Please be advised that numbers in the unnamed column in those two provincial tables should be reduced from printed totals.
“The numbers confirm what we’ve been saying all along,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “Many reserve politicians are paying themselves exorbitant salaries while keeping their band members and taxpayers in the dark. This is exactly why we’ve been calling for transparency and reform.”
Shockingly, one band councillor at a 304 resident reserve in Atlantic Canada was paid $978,468 tax free in 2008-09 (equivalent to about $1.8 million off reserve).
“Posting band politicians’ salary information online would not only remove the cloud of suspicion around band politicians that aren’t taking advantage of the situation, it would help band members hold their politicians accountable,” added Craig. “Frustrated taxpayers and band members need to contact Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Layton’s to tell them to support bill C-575 as it would require such disclosure.”
The CTF has recently confirmed with the federal government that if MP Kelly Block’s private members bill C-575 passes, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs would place pay amounts that reserve politicians receive with federal dollars on the internet. However, as that would not disclose pay received from band-owned enterprises (eg. casinos, gas stations), the CTF is calling for an amendment to the bill to require all pay data be placed online.
Note: although the federal data released today does not include names, media outlets and taxpayers could try to investigate the anonymous salary amounts by using the reserve population figures listed in each row. Those figures could be cross referenced with the reserve population figures on the federal government’s reserve profile’s web page (click here) to determine which communities they could belong to.
__________________________________________________
Bill seeks First Nations financial reportingSaturday, October 2, 2010CBC News
A Saskatchewan MP is proposing a federal law that would require the release of salaries and expenses of all First Nations chiefs and council members.
Conservative Kelly Block, who represents Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, tabled the private member's bill on Friday.
"The purpose of this bill is … to ensure that public funds that are flowing to First Nations elected officials are publicly disclosed," Block told CBC News from her constituency Saturday.
There is an existing process for First Nations band members to request financial information from their leaders, Block said. If those requests are not met, the federal minister responsible may release the information.
Block said her bill would simplify the process and make disclosure automatic instead of going through "a bit of an onerous process."
She added that many First Nations already provide regular reports of their finances. Some are proactive and release material as soon as possible. Others release information on request.
"But there are those that don't," Block said. "What this bill will do is ensure that … an individual wouldn't even have to ask for it. It would be disclosed in an annual report to the community."
Block said she did not conduct formal consultations prior to introducing the bill, but believes many First Nations leaders would support the move.
"I have made an effort to build relationships with First Nations chiefs and council members," she said. "But I did not specifically consult with them on this bill."
Block's bill, C-575, must go through a number of parliamentary stages before it becomes law. It is relatively rare for private member's bills to be successfully enacted.
posted by Clare L. Pieuk at 12:49 PM
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