52 First Nations risk losing funding for not complying with transparency law
52 First Nations risk losing funding for not complying with transparency law
Kashechewan First Nation given more time to comply; sanctions will not target ‘essential’ services
The government has revised its list of First Nations that have not complied with new transparency rules that require them to post their financial statements online for the last fiscal year, leaving the names of 52 bands on its website after initially publishing 55.
The names of Taykwa Tagamou Nation and Neskantaga First Nation in Ontario, as well as Red Earth Band in Saskatchewan no longer appear on the Aboriginal Affairs website.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said in a statement that 529 out of 582 First Nations — over 90 per cent — have met the new requirements, appearing to leave 53 that are not in compliance.
But the Aboriginal Affairs website lists 52 bands — not 53.
Valcourt said that Kashechewan First Nation has been given more time to submit their financial documents due to a flood.
“Due to extenuating circumstances, action against one First Nation will be postponed so that it may submit its documents at a later date.”
In a letter obtained by CBC News and sent by Aboriginal Affairs, the government said it would consider cutting funding to essential services beginning Dec. 12.
But in his statement today, the minister said the government would only consider cutting new or existing funding to “non-essential” programs.
“I have directed that the sanctions not target essential services that support band members,” Valcourt said in a written statement Thursday afternoon.
The bulk of the bands which are listed as having not complied — 36 First Nations — are in the western provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Ten are in Ontario, three in Alberta, and one each in Quebec, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
Chief Wallace Fox from the Onion Lake Cree Nation, which appears on the list, announced on Wednesday his band is taking the government to court over the new law.
The 52 First Nations on the government’s revised list are:
Quebec
Algonquins of Barriere Lake
Ontario
Wahta Mohawks
Weenusk First Nation
Wabauskang First Nation
Ginoogaming First Nation
Gull Bay First Nation
Whitesand First Nation
Bearskin Lake First Nation
Fort Severn First Nation
Chapleau Ojibway First Nation
Kashechewan First Nation
Manitoba
Hollow Water Band
Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation Government
Little Saskatchewan Band
Norway House Cree Nation
Ebb And Flow Band
Dakota Tipi Band
Wasagamack First Nation
Bunibonibee Cree Nation
York Factory First Nation
Fox Lake Band
Shamattawa First Nation
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
Northlands Band
Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation
Lake St Martin
Saskatchewan
Onion Lake Cree Nation
Poundmaker Band
Thunderchild
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation
Cowessess Band
Ochapowace Band
Fishing Lake First Nation Band
Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation
English River First Nation Band
Alberta
Sawridge Band
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Cold Lake First Nations Band
British Columbia
Skatin Nations
New Westminster Indian Band
Semiahmoo Indian Band
Chawathil Indian Band
Popkum Indian Band
Peters Indian Band
Takla Lake First Nation
Gitxaala Nation
Oregon Jack Creek Indian Band
Boston Bar First Nation
High Bar Indian Band
Tl’etinqox Government
Yukon
Liard First Nation
Northwest Territories
Acho Dene Koe First Nation