The move sets Onion Lake on a collision course with the Harper government, which has said any band that fails to abide by the new rules will have its funding cut off.
“It is state-sanctioned blackmail, pure and simple,” Fox said Wednesday. “It’s legalized extortion.”
Bill C27, which came into force this week, requires First Nation governments to publicize audited financial statements and the salaries and expenses of their chiefs and councillors.
Fox said his Onion Lake already discloses financial details to band members and has no obligation to inform outsiders.
“I work for the people of Onion Lake, so I’m accountable to them, and nobody else,” he said. “Indian Affairs didn’t elect me.”
Onion Lake, located 50 kilometres north of Lloydminster, is wealthier than many other reserves, in part due to income from oil and gas projects.
Fox said his band has enough money to carry on without federal funding for the time being.
“Think we’re going to starve? I don’t think so,” he said, “The have-not nations have to sign ... they don’t have the resources we do.”
First Nations were only given 48 hours to provide comments on legislation before it was introduced, which Fox said is not enough time to give a well-considered response.
Onion Lake has submitted a written objection to bill C27 to Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt, Fox said.
Formal dispute resolution is the next step, he said, but it appears no system is in place to do so.
“As per dispute resolution mechanism, they’re scrambling today to figure out how do we deal with Onion Lake,” Fox said.
He said many chiefs he has spoken with also oppose the new legislation.
“Many of the chiefs have the same opinion on Bill C27,” he said. “We have not been consulted on anything.”
Original Article
Source: thestarphoenix.com
Author: Jeff Davis
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