Editorial: Over the top – Calgary Herald

October 1, 2015

The taxpaying public has a tendency to be cynical about how money is spent in First Nations communities, and regrettably, the Stoney First Nation is reinforcing that cynicism.

News that the band spent $3.3 million on salaries and expenses for those in charge last year, while taking a chunk out of its rainy-day funds for the second year in a row to combat a rising deficit, has done nothing to foster trust that public money is being well spent on the reserve.

Thanks to the federal First Nations Financial Transparency Act, the figures were made public. However, the act is a two-edged sword. It is all well and good to proclaim that sunshine is the best disinfectant, but if band members don’t use this information to elect leaders who are willing to work for much more modest recompense, then the act is window dressing.

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