VICTORIA: The BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released a breakdown of recent taxpayer funding for the Cheam Indian band, which is currently threatening to charge tolls on Highway 9 near Aggasiz.

"Obviously we're not huge fans of additional taxes at this point in time - no matter who they are levied by and especially on public roads already bought and paid for by taxpayers," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke. "In particular, the Cheam Indian Band received a 39% funding increase this past year from DIAND over the previous year."

he information provided is a result of a recent federal Access to Information requests conducted by the CTF in 1999 and earlier this year, and concerns funding from the federal department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) only, not other federal departments or provincial ministries.