My Globe and Mail has this patronizing twaddle on view for my edification today.
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act was a typical bit of Harperite mischief-making. Slyly exploiting stereotypes dear to Harper's base, it promised to bring transparency to the no-doubt dubious financial dealings of native leaders.
According to the Globe, "anomalies started turning up... arrangements that in many cases had never before been made public and were surprising and puzzling to the members of those communities themselves. Those revelations proved the FNFTA's worth."
Yes, out of almost 600 bands that have reported, a small handful of anomalies did show up. But overall, I'd say that our native brothers and sisters have a track record far better than Harper's senate appointments.
And how's this for egregious self-righteousness; "The governed always need to know what the governors are up to."
Indeed!
Whoever wrote that must not be following the Mike Duffy shit show that's been unfolding in Ottawa. The crew that foisted "transparency" on Canada's native communities obviously doesn't believe in it for themselves... maybe that's because unlike Indians, those white chiefs in Ottawa can be trusted.
Or not.
Showing posts with label First Nations Financial Transparency Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label First Nations Financial Transparency Act. Show all posts
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Cops, Indian Chiefs, and racist media hysteria
Six months ago it looked like the Harper gang had hit the mother-lode with their odious "First Nations Financial Transparency Act." Chief Ron Giesbrecht became the poster boy for alleged Native financial hanky-panky when headlines across the land proffered outrage over his near million dollar "salary."
Six months later we've got a much quieter headline; "Median Salary for a Chief is $60,000: Toronto Star." Putting that in perspective, it's a good 25% less than the income of an RCMP constable with three years experience.
Long story short, there was never much of a story here. The First Nations Financial Transparency Act, patronizingly foisted on our Native brothers and sisters for their own good, of course, was designed to put the Native population on the defensive and distract the electorate from the utterly shabby way the Harper government has handled the Aboriginal Affairs file.
Now that this non-issue has been put to rest, will the Harper gang get on with addressing the many life-and-death challenges facing Canada's Native population, or will Side-show Steve fabricate another diversion?
Six months later we've got a much quieter headline; "Median Salary for a Chief is $60,000: Toronto Star." Putting that in perspective, it's a good 25% less than the income of an RCMP constable with three years experience.
Long story short, there was never much of a story here. The First Nations Financial Transparency Act, patronizingly foisted on our Native brothers and sisters for their own good, of course, was designed to put the Native population on the defensive and distract the electorate from the utterly shabby way the Harper government has handled the Aboriginal Affairs file.
Now that this non-issue has been put to rest, will the Harper gang get on with addressing the many life-and-death challenges facing Canada's Native population, or will Side-show Steve fabricate another diversion?
Monday, December 8, 2014
Harper's warrior cabinet works overtime to escalate tensions with Natives
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act, brought in by the Harper gang last year, was supposedly for the benefit of First Nations citizens, so they could be assured that their leadership was spending "their" money responsibly. Ironically, that bestows on Canada's native leaders a far higher standard of fiscal prudence than what Ottawa is bound by!
Of course, it's not at all ironic once you focus on the real reason for the FNFTA; to shame and undermine native leadership by publicizing their alleged fiscal malfeasance. Harper strategists cleverly crafted this odious bit of race-baiting to win votes among that segment of the populace who are wholly ignorant of their history as colonizers, and will reflexively salute any measure that puts the squeeze on "those lazy Indians."
Over 90% of First Nations have complied with the demands of the legislation, and frankly, scandals have been scarce indeed. In fact, most First Nation leaderships are far more law-abiding than the PMO. That's why Big Steve's brain trust is now taking the fight to the next level; the White man's legal system!
That should scare up a few more scared votes from racist Canadians in time for the next election!
"Hot damn, Tilley, at last somebody's doing something about those greedy thieving natives!... I'm votin' for Harper and you're gonna too!"
Of course, it's not at all ironic once you focus on the real reason for the FNFTA; to shame and undermine native leadership by publicizing their alleged fiscal malfeasance. Harper strategists cleverly crafted this odious bit of race-baiting to win votes among that segment of the populace who are wholly ignorant of their history as colonizers, and will reflexively salute any measure that puts the squeeze on "those lazy Indians."
Over 90% of First Nations have complied with the demands of the legislation, and frankly, scandals have been scarce indeed. In fact, most First Nation leaderships are far more law-abiding than the PMO. That's why Big Steve's brain trust is now taking the fight to the next level; the White man's legal system!
That should scare up a few more scared votes from racist Canadians in time for the next election!
"Hot damn, Tilley, at last somebody's doing something about those greedy thieving natives!... I'm votin' for Harper and you're gonna too!"
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Bwana and the Darkies; Ottawa plays hardball with First Nations
Just about everything in this story grates.
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act was an odious bit of racist presumption that subjects Canada's First Nations to a far higher standard of conduct than Ottawa itself is subject to.
The intent was to humiliate First Nations by exposing their fiscal ineptitude, their avarice, and their propensity for corruption.
The Harperites hoped that their water-carriers in the right-wing media, scum like Ezra Levant, would be able to use the inevitable embarrassing revelations as fodder for anti-Indian hate-mongering in perpetuity.
The Act has had mixed results. Overall, the First Nations have been shown to have at least as much fiscal responsibility as what we find in the political machinery of the colonists. Yes, there have been a few scandals, but overall, not much to write home about.
So now we see this "hardball" headline in the Toronto Star. The implication is that these 80 nations that have not yet bowed to the dictates of the First Nations Transparency Act must obviously be the worst of the worst!
Therefore, it's now up to Massah to play "hardball."
What a disgusting display of abusive language; the people who have all the power threaten to play "hardball" with those who have none.
And this from a government that never tires of pointing fingers at various real and imagined human rights miscreants around the world.
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act was an odious bit of racist presumption that subjects Canada's First Nations to a far higher standard of conduct than Ottawa itself is subject to.
The intent was to humiliate First Nations by exposing their fiscal ineptitude, their avarice, and their propensity for corruption.
The Harperites hoped that their water-carriers in the right-wing media, scum like Ezra Levant, would be able to use the inevitable embarrassing revelations as fodder for anti-Indian hate-mongering in perpetuity.
The Act has had mixed results. Overall, the First Nations have been shown to have at least as much fiscal responsibility as what we find in the political machinery of the colonists. Yes, there have been a few scandals, but overall, not much to write home about.
So now we see this "hardball" headline in the Toronto Star. The implication is that these 80 nations that have not yet bowed to the dictates of the First Nations Transparency Act must obviously be the worst of the worst!
Therefore, it's now up to Massah to play "hardball."
What a disgusting display of abusive language; the people who have all the power threaten to play "hardball" with those who have none.
And this from a government that never tires of pointing fingers at various real and imagined human rights miscreants around the world.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Harper gang wastes no time in slamming Native leaders for "excessive" pay
There was outrage across the land today as Canadians learned that the Chief of a tiny Native band in BC took home a whopping $914,000 last year!
OH MY GOD!!! There's white guys on Bay street barely bringing in 900K!
The horror!
These headlines are the result of new disclosure rules mandated by the Harper regime under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt wasted no time weighing in on the scandal. He knows intuitively, without looking at any facts, that this is completely unreasonable, and expresses his hope that band members will "take care of the situation".
What is he implying? Lynching Chief Giesbrecht?
Notice how Valcourt is able to squeeze his concern for "taxpayer dollars" into a brief interview three times?
He wants to make sure that the drooling rednecks who make up Harper's base get the message that the Harper gang respects their hard-earned dollars and is gettin' tough on them thieving Indians
According to the Globe and Mail, Chief Giesbrecht makes a basic salary of $4,800 per year, which strikes me as modest in the extreme. He earns a further $80,000 as the band's Economic Development Officer, which is definitely on the low end for folks with that job title. The balance of his income is from a 10% commission he earned on a land use agreement that brought over eight million dollars to the band.
Given that hedge fund managers on Bay Street typically take a 20% commission on any profits they make, why would anyone, based on the facts available, begrudge Chief Giesbrecht a fee of half the going rate?
Because he's an Indian?
The other noteworthy fact to keep in mind is that the Kwikwetiem First Nation was one of the very few to file their financial statements by Tuesday's deadline. When other bands see how playing along with this intrusive and racially-motivated legislation results in being slandered by cabinet ministers and national media, they may want to reconsider.
OH MY GOD!!! There's white guys on Bay street barely bringing in 900K!
The horror!
These headlines are the result of new disclosure rules mandated by the Harper regime under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt wasted no time weighing in on the scandal. He knows intuitively, without looking at any facts, that this is completely unreasonable, and expresses his hope that band members will "take care of the situation".
What is he implying? Lynching Chief Giesbrecht?
Notice how Valcourt is able to squeeze his concern for "taxpayer dollars" into a brief interview three times?
He wants to make sure that the drooling rednecks who make up Harper's base get the message that the Harper gang respects their hard-earned dollars and is gettin' tough on them thieving Indians
According to the Globe and Mail, Chief Giesbrecht makes a basic salary of $4,800 per year, which strikes me as modest in the extreme. He earns a further $80,000 as the band's Economic Development Officer, which is definitely on the low end for folks with that job title. The balance of his income is from a 10% commission he earned on a land use agreement that brought over eight million dollars to the band.
Given that hedge fund managers on Bay Street typically take a 20% commission on any profits they make, why would anyone, based on the facts available, begrudge Chief Giesbrecht a fee of half the going rate?
Because he's an Indian?
The other noteworthy fact to keep in mind is that the Kwikwetiem First Nation was one of the very few to file their financial statements by Tuesday's deadline. When other bands see how playing along with this intrusive and racially-motivated legislation results in being slandered by cabinet ministers and national media, they may want to reconsider.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
The toxic mischief of the First Nations Financial Transparency Act
The Harper government spins the First Nations Financial Transparency Act as something they just had to do to let the native street see how high on the hog their leadership have been living. The implication being that us white folks are overwhelmingly generous to you Indians, and the only reason many of you live in squalor and deprivation is because your leaders are pocketing the money.
Bullshit!
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act is intended to foment discord in the native community while at the same time inciting the racist elements in the broader Canadian society. You know the Ezra Levant crowd is going to be mining the financial reports for salacious anti-native propaganda for years, which is exactly what the Harper gang had in mind when they drafted this legislation.
I have no doubt that some troubling examples of self-dealing and fiscal abuse will emerge, but guess what?!...
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/29/alison-redfords-alleged-ghost-flights-and-faked-manifests-take-scandalous-behaviour-to-a-new-level/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/17/mike-duffy-to-be-charged-by-rcmp-suspended-senators-lawyer-says/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charbonneau_Commission
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/07/29/toronto_mayor_rob_ford_still_doesnt_understand_conflict_of_interest_editorial.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mulroney-tried-to-cover-up-cash-payments-he-received-in-hotel-rooms-schreiber-1.648379
I could go on and on and on...
Bullshit!
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act is intended to foment discord in the native community while at the same time inciting the racist elements in the broader Canadian society. You know the Ezra Levant crowd is going to be mining the financial reports for salacious anti-native propaganda for years, which is exactly what the Harper gang had in mind when they drafted this legislation.
I have no doubt that some troubling examples of self-dealing and fiscal abuse will emerge, but guess what?!...
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/29/alison-redfords-alleged-ghost-flights-and-faked-manifests-take-scandalous-behaviour-to-a-new-level/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/17/mike-duffy-to-be-charged-by-rcmp-suspended-senators-lawyer-says/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charbonneau_Commission
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/07/29/toronto_mayor_rob_ford_still_doesnt_understand_conflict_of_interest_editorial.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mulroney-tried-to-cover-up-cash-payments-he-received-in-hotel-rooms-schreiber-1.648379
I could go on and on and on...
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Four years after Harper's landmark apology for residential schools, the White man still knows best
The Globe has a story about how the "First Nations Financial Transparency Act" is being received by the First Nations. That's a new law that will require band administrators to make public their salaries.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan makes it plain that this law is, like the residential schools, strictly for the good of the Natives. Sure it is! Everything Canada has ever done to the Indians has been for their own good!
If you read Harper's speech four years ago you would have come away with a sense that maybe things would be different. We and they would be "moving forward" together, a movement that would be marked by mutual respect.
How is dictating to Natives what's good for them evidence of "mutual respect?"
On the face of it there's nothing wrong with public servants being required to make public their salaries. What's different in this case is that band councilors and chiefs may be public servants all right, but the public they are serving are the First Nations public, not the Canadian public.
Any move to make personal finances public needs to originate among the First Nations, not be imposed from outside.
All this Act will do is help further poison the atmosphere in a lot of Native communities and give the Ezra Levant types lots more fodder for their racist stereotyping of Indians.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan makes it plain that this law is, like the residential schools, strictly for the good of the Natives. Sure it is! Everything Canada has ever done to the Indians has been for their own good!
If you read Harper's speech four years ago you would have come away with a sense that maybe things would be different. We and they would be "moving forward" together, a movement that would be marked by mutual respect.
How is dictating to Natives what's good for them evidence of "mutual respect?"
On the face of it there's nothing wrong with public servants being required to make public their salaries. What's different in this case is that band councilors and chiefs may be public servants all right, but the public they are serving are the First Nations public, not the Canadian public.
Any move to make personal finances public needs to originate among the First Nations, not be imposed from outside.
All this Act will do is help further poison the atmosphere in a lot of Native communities and give the Ezra Levant types lots more fodder for their racist stereotyping of Indians.
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