The Reality Behind First Nation Solitude...

Native chiefs earn more than PM

John Ivison: Transparency must precede money for native reforms


Most Canadians would agree that something needs to be done about the dismal state of First Nations schools, from which less than half of young native men and women graduate. At the same time, those same Canadians will be appalled to discover that more than 80 aboriginal reserve politicians are paid more than the Prime Minister, and 222 earned more than their provincial premiers. No one likes to be played for a sucker. Why should taxpayers spend more on natives when so much of the existing funding seems to be siphoned off by greedy chiefs?

John Duncan, the Indian Affairs Minister, is currently trying to navigate through the rocky shoals of aboriginal politics by reforming native education, while at the same time demanding more accountability and transparency from chiefs.

In the House of Commons Monday, he said an announcement on education is imminent. Later he said the government wants to expand a Conservative private members’ bill aimed at forcing chiefs to disclose all sources of income, not just public funds.

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