Information is power for First Nations – The Globe and Mail
Nov 02, 2014
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act is proving its worth, simply by revealing details of the compensation of various native government officials. There may be good explanations for some surprising incomes, but the disclosure that has been required since last year means that members of aboriginal communities finally know how much the people in their local government are being paid. And that has opened the door to demands for greater accountability and better governance.
For example, Chief Paul Sam of the Shuswap First Nation, in the Upper Columbia region, earned $202,413 last year, free of income tax. His former wife, Alice Sam, also on the band council, earned $202,000. Another councillor, previously unaware of their salaries, received much less, $57,700.
The band has about 230 members, only 87 of whom live on the reserve. Over the past four years, members of the chief’s family have earned more than $4.1-million. Meanwhile, some other band members are said to have gone through the winter without water and electricity.
