The FSIN Questions The Canadian Taxpayers Federation Recent Report On First Nations Chief and Council Pay Data

Media
Release
FSIN Communications Unit

   
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 24, 2010

(Saskatoon, SK)  The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations strongly disputes the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) view on the First Nation’s Chief and Council pay data report which indicated that many First Nations politicians make more money than the Prime Minister and the respective Premiers. 

The CTF report alleges that 82 First Nations politicians were paid more than the Prime Minister, 222 First Nations leaders were paid more than their respective premiers and over 700 received an income over $100,000 off reserve in 2008/2009. FSIN Vice-Chief Morley Watson defends First Nations leaders and says First Nation leaders are being targeted and this research is grossly misleading.

“In many cases First Nation Chief and Councils go above and beyond the call of duty for their citizens,” says Vice Chief Watson.  “For example, when there’s an accident or fire in a First Nations community, the first people to be called are the Chief and the Councils. When an accident occurs within the province, the Premier and his MLA’s have an abundance of staff and agencies to respond to these types of situations.”

In Saskatchewan, 22.5% of First Nations leaders make less than $25,000 a year, 33% make less than $40,000 a year and only 7.1% are making over $100,000 a year. The report focuses on 7% of more than 3,300 First Nation elected officials across Canada. It ignores the vast majority of our elected officials who are largely underpaid for the work they do, and who should be commended for the job they’re doing.

“When you take a closer look at the leadership making over 100 thousand a year, they may be communities that are in a remote location, they may have multiple communities to serve or they may have ventures that require additional obligations” says Vice Chief Watson. “The extra cost to travel and attend to these communities and manage these affairs factor into this amount.”

The CTF report compares First Nation leaders’ salary and travel expenses to the Prime Minister and the Premiers salaries. 

“How can the Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation justify comparing First Nations salary and travel expenses to the Prime Minister’s salary alone,” says Vice Chief Watson. “It’s an unfair assumption. To us what is jaw dropping is that our Chief and Councils can serve for years in their community and do not receive benefits/pensions once their term has expired. Unlike, MP’s and MLA’s who receive lifetime benefits for their services. The Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation is a lobbying group. They should be promoting harmony instead of giving misleading information and widening the gap between First Nations and non First Nations people.”

The FSIN and the Chiefs-in-Assembly strongly support accountability and transparency and discloses Saskatchewan’s First Nations leadership honorariums and travel in the FSIN annual report. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) also requires full disclosure on Chief and Councils renumeration in their audits and to our knowledge these audits are made available when requested.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.  The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the Treaties, as well as the promotion, the protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago. 
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For More Information Please Contact:
Cherish Francis, Communication Officer
Direct: 306.956.1026
Cell:306.220.7187
Facsimile: 306.665.0115