CALGARY: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation's Aboriginal Division responded today to the introduction of the "Federal Accountability Act".

Currently, Canadian taxpayers spend approximately $8 billion for federal programs directed at native Canadians. Once the federal government transfers roughly 80 per cent of the money to native bands, the auditor-general of Canada no longer has the authority to audit how and where the money is spent.

"We are very pleased to see the Federal Accountability Act will give the auditor-general authority to audit and scrutinize money transferred to native governments. For too long the lack of accountability mechanisms have lead to inefficiencies, redundancies, corruption and even abuse," stated Tanis Fiss, the division's director.

Since the Canadian Taxpayers Federation created its Aboriginal Division in 2002, one of the priorities of the Division was to push the federal government to expand the mandate of the auditor-general to include native bands.

"The CTF is concerned that 17 native governments will be excluded from the Federal Accountability Act because they have self-government agreements or have contracted out of the Indian Act. As long as these communities receive tax dollars, they should be subject to scrutiny of the auditor-general," concluded Fiss.

Schedule VII of the Federal Accountability Act excludes 17 native governments that have self-government agreements or have elected to contract out of the Indian Act. Some of these communities include: Sechelt, Nisga'a, Tlicho and Labrador Inuit Association.