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Good Day Readers:

With 300 members and a salary of $209,000 Chief Clarke is paid $696.67 each year for every reserve member. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on the other hand, receives $301,600. Using the 2009 population figure of 33, 739,900 that equates to $111.87. Of course, he gets to live rent free at 24 Sussex Drive.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
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First Nations chief defends huge salary

Chief Shirley Clarke of Nova Scotia’s Glooscap First Nation confirmed Thursday that she and three band councillors were each paid more than $209,000 last year for running a reserve of only 300 members.

Richard Foot,Postmedia News/Tursday, December 2, 2010

GLOOSCAP FIRST NATION, N.S. After a week of public scrutiny and a minor uprising in her community, the chief of one of Canada’s smallest reserves has broken her silence on the huge, tax-free salaries she and other leaders are paid.

Chief Shirley Clarke of Nova Scotia’s Glooscap First Nation confirmed Thursday that she and three band councillors were each paid more than $209,000 last year for running a reserve of only 300 members.

The Chief defended the amounts, but also vowed to make Glooscap’s finances more transparent and to consult band members about future salary levels.

That promise follows a closed-door community meeting Wednesday night, convened after more than 20 angry reserve members signed a petition demanding to know what their leaders are paid.

One councillor collected a total of nearly $1-million last year in salary and other fees — for carrying out paving and construction contracts that were awarded to him by his fellow councillors.

“We don’t see any problem with it,” Chief Clarke told reporters on Thursday when asked if it was proper for Councillor Mike Halliday to be awarded not only multiple jobs with the band, but also band-issued contracts for business on the reserve.

Mr. Halliday, who is Chief Clarke’s cousin, collected $96,000 in salary last year for serving as a councillor. He also made another $120,000 for working as the band’s financial comptroller, fisheries co-ordinator, native employment officer and housing administrator, according to an “information sheet” issued by the band.

And he made another $718,000 through band-awarded construction contracts, paid for by revenue from reserve-owned enterprises such as a gas station and a video lottery gaming room.

“Some of those numbers there are not tax dollars [transferred to Glooscap from the Indian Affairs Department], and that’s the misconception,” Chief Clarke said.

Neither Mr. Halliday, nor Councillor Lorraine Whitman — who is Chief Clarke’s sister — attended Thursday’s news conference. Each has declined to answer questions about their incomes.

The Glooscap salaries came to light last month in federal documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. The records showed that while hundreds of First Nations leaders receive small or moderate salaries for their work, hundreds more make six-figure salaries, including 82 who were paid more last year than Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Most of the high native salaries went to chiefs and councillors on reserves in Western Canada, but the highest earnings went to a councillor at an unnamed reserve in Atlantic Canada — now known to be Glooscap.

Chief Clarke criticized the Canadian Taxpayers Federation for disclosing what she described as “unfair” numbers, and for creating a “crisis” on the reserve.

Then she confirmed those same numbers and said: “I think the general public should know that we are transparent and we are accountable.”

The salary revelations sparked an outcry among some Glooscap band members, including Brian Smith. On Thursday, Mr. Smith said he was encouraged by the Chief’s decision to meet with band members and open council salary levels to community input.

“I hope we can all now begin to start putting this behind us and begin the rebuilding process,” he said. “In life, it’s not the mistakes we make that really matter, it’s whether or not we learn from them that matters. I hope our chief and council have learned that.”

Said Chief Clarke: “Our people say they want more transparency and disclosure from us. We have listened to them.”

The taxpayers federation, an independent advocacy group, says First Nations leaders are the only politicians in Canada whose pay levels are still kept secret. It says Ottawa should be required by law to fully disclose all band salaries and income.

Saskatchewan Conservative MP Kelly Block has a private member’s bill before Parliament that, if passed, would force the government to publish the details of band salaries, but not individual income derived from band-owned businesses.