The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released partial data today obtained from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs that shows at least 30 band chiefs in Canada received more in pay than the average premier during 2008-09. The CTF is calling on the federal government to immediately release the withheld data.
Over a year ago, the CTF requested the salary information for every band chief and councillor in Canada. The response from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs did not include any pay information for councillors and did not include funds chiefs received from band-owned enterprises and other funds set up with public dollars. Further, names were withheld.
What was learned from the documents is that at least 30 chiefs took home more than $109,893 in 2008-09, which was the average after-tax income for Canadian premiers that same year.
| Average premier's after tax income in 08-09 | $109,893 |
| Number of chiefs who received at least that amount | 30...and counting |
“Many grassroots band members are furious that band chiefs and councillors seem to be the only politicians in Canada that can keep their pay levels secret,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “All politicians in Canada, no matter what their ethnicity, should have to disclose their pay publicly.”
“It’s hard to say what a chief should be paid,” added Craig. “However, given their communities typically have the same population as a small town, paying them the same as Premiers who serve much larger populations seems a bit odd.”
Recently, Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar MP Kelly Block introduced a private members Bill intended to improve transparency of chiefs pay on reserves. The CTF supports Ms. Block’s efforts and will be releasing recommendations for amendments to her private members bill in the near future.
Leaked band salary information provided to the CTF shows remuneration to band councils from band-owned enterprises and other funds set-up with public funds can be as high as $203,592 annually.
“Not disclosing the funds chiefs received from band-owned enterprises and other accounts is akin to disclosing a full time employee’s pay from Monday through Wednesday, but not disclosing their Thursday through Friday pay,” added Craig.
Click here to see the federal government’s access to information response.
Click here to see how the response should have been provided.
Is Canada Off Track?
Canada has problems. You see them at gas station. You see them at the grocery store. You see them on your taxes.
Is anyone listening to you to find out where you think Canada’s off track and what you think we could do to make things better?
You can tell us what you think by filling out the survey