MANITOULIN—Although he is pleased that the Canadian government is reinstating funds (which had been frozen under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act), as announced by Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, Anishinabek grand council Chief Patrick Madahbee said the freeze should never been put in place initially by the previous government.
“What happened is that clearly this was a situation in which the (Stephen) Harper government had been under pressure from groups like the Canadian Taxpayers Association (CPA), on where government funds were going and why the government was in a hue deficit situation,” said Chief Madahbee. “So the government was looking for a target where cuts or a freeze in funds could be handed out, and they pointed to First Nation chiefs as not being accountable for funds in their communities.”
However, “First Nations finances have to be done on a regular basis by a reputable auditing firm,” stated Chief Madahbee. “If not, a third party from Indian Affairs is brought in.”
“This whole thing has been a public relations excuse on the part of the federal government, to cause a diversion and focus on First Nations when the government itself was going further into debt,” continued Chief Madahbee. “And this Act was forced through legislation, and funding was held back to First Nations, even on essential needs in our communities.”
Chief Madahbee pointed out some First Nations such as Onion Lake (Saskatchewan) had taken the federal government to court over this Act, “and they beat the government in court, that this act was unnecessary. Again, as I’ve stated previously, across the country, less than six percent of First Nations communities were found to have a bad audit. Meanwhile, the federal government is billions in deficit, and saying First Nations with small budgets are not being accountable?”
“It was politics, and a diversionary tactic,” continued Chief Madahbee. “Some of our communities have been saying they need funds for things such as education and clean water-with 144 communities still under a boil water advisory. The government cut back all First Nations and those doing advocacy work, as much as 60 percent in some cases.”
“This has been a totally unnecessary situation,” stated Chief Madahbee. “If anyone is under a larger microscope and scrutiny than First Nations I don’t know who that would be. Every member of a First Nation community gets a chance to see the community audit, and the audits are presented and made public at open band council meetings.”
Along with cancelling the freeze on funds to First Nations, Ms. Bennett also announced the government is halting compliance measures that required bands to post detailed financial information online.
In a news release issued by the government on December 18, the minister said the government will suspend court actions against First Nations that have not complied with the act.
“We will work in full partnership with First Nations leaders and organizations on the way forward to improve accountability and transparency,” Ms. Bennett said in the statement. “This can not be achieved without the engagement of First Nations and its members.”
Forty-three First Nations were waiting on the Liberal government to release more than $12 million in funding, which was held back by the previous conservative government.
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act brought in by the Conservatives, required 581 bands across Canada to release their financial information or have their government funding ceased.
Ms. Bennett said in her release that initial steps will lead the way to discussions on transparency and accountability that are “based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership and that build towards a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples.”
“I would assume the funding will be reinstated immediately,” said Chief Madahbee, pointing out, “the government is reviewing all policy and acts passed by Mr. Harper and his government. It was Mr. Harper’s government that lost over 170 court cases involving First Nations.”
“When you are wrong, you are freaking wrong as was the case here with the government,” stated Chief Madahbee. “Everyone should be questioning for instance why the federal government stupidly spent what is in the neighbourhood of $190 million on court cases to fight First Nations on these type of issues.”
