Harper Government Calls on all Parliamentarians to Support First Nation Demands for Greater Accountability and Transparency
(firmenpresse) - OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 11/21/12 -- The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, today called on all Parliamentarians to support the First Nations Financial Transparency Act. Minister Duncan was joined by members of First Nations from across Canada who will benefit from the Act, and by representatives of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF).
"First Nation community members deserve the same level of transparency and accountability from their leadership as Canadians expect of their federal, provincial and municipal leaders," said Minister Duncan. "That's why we're calling on all Parliamentarians to unanimously support the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, which responds to demands from First Nation community members for greater assurance that their leaders are using public funds to improve their communities and create economic opportunities."
"Financial accountability is important for open and effective government. We see many great examples of open and accountable governments in First Nations' communities across Canada," said Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar. "Through the Act, our Government is ensuring that all First Nations' community members across the country will have access to the same level of information."
Last fall, the Harper Government introduced the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, which would require First Nations to publish the salaries and expenses of their leaders, as well as their audited consolidated financial statements. While self-governing First Nations already have rules around financial disclosure, and some First Nations voluntarily disclose financial information, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act would ensure that all First Nations are held to the same standard of transparency and accountability that Canadians have come to expect of their government.
"We've been pushing hard for this legislation for three years so we're quite pleased the government has responded to our concerns," said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. "The bottom line is every politician in the country - federal, provincial, municipal and Aboriginal - should have to disclose their pay to the public."
The Act would not set salary levels for band leadership, nor would it require individual businesses owned by the band to publish detailed financial statements.
Federal, provincial and municipal governments have all introduced legislation and rules to make more information available to Canadians, enabling them to make informed decisions about their leadership. First Nation governments operating under the Indian Act are now the only governments in Canada that do not have a legislated requirement to make basic financial information public. The First Nations Financial Transparency Act would address this need.
If passed into law, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act would also give investors the confidence they need to partner with First Nations to create economic opportunities, jobs and the kind of growth that will contribute to healthier, more self-sufficient First Nation communities.
Backgrounder on the First Nations Financial Transparency Act
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Contacts:
Minister's Office
Jan O'Driscoll
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable John Duncan
819-997-0002
Media Relations
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
819-953-1160
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Datum: 21.11.2012 - 11:10 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 1173531
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