52 First Nations risk losing funding for not complying with transparency law

The government has revised its list of First Nations that have not complied with new transparency rules that require them to post their financial statements online for the last fiscal year, leaving the names of 52 bands on its website after initially publishing 55.

The names of Taykwa Tagamou Nation and Neskantaga First Nation in Ontario, as well as Red Earth Band in Saskatchewan no longer appear on the Aboriginal Affairs website.

• Onion Lake Cree Nation takes Ottawa to court over transparency law

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said in a statement that 529 out of 582 First Nations — over 90 per cent —​ have met the new requirements, appearing to leave 53 that are not in compliance.

I have directed that the sanctions not target essential services that support band members- Bernard Valcourt, aboriginal affairs minister

But the Aboriginal Affairs website lists 52 bands — not 53.

Valcourt said that Kashechewan First Nation has been given more time to submit their financial documents due to a flood.

"Due to extenuating circumstances, action against one First Nation will be postponed so that it may submit its documents at a later date."

In a letter obtained by CBC News and sent by Aboriginal Affairs, the government said it would consider cutting funding to essential services beginning Dec. 12. 

But in his statement today, the minister said the government would only consider cutting new or existing funding to "non-essential" programs.

"I have directed that the sanctions not target essential services that support band members," Valcourt said in a written statement Thursday afternoon.

​The bulk of the bands which are listed as having not complied — 36 First Nations — are in the western provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Ten are in Ontario, three in Alberta, and one each in Quebec, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

Chief Wallace Fox from the Onion Lake Cree Nation, which appears on the list, announced on Wednesday his band is taking the government to court over the new law.

The 52 First Nations on the government's revised list are:

Quebec

• Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Ontario

• Bearskin Lake First Nation
• Chapleau Ojibway First Nation
• Fort Severn First Nation
• Ginoogaming First Nation
• Gull Bay First Nation
• Kashechewan First Nation
• Wabauskang First Nation
• Wahta Mohawks
• Weenusk First Nation
• Whitesand First Nation

Manitoba

• Bunibonibee Cree Nation
• Dakota Tipi Band
• Ebb And Flow Band
• Fox Lake Band
• Hollow Water Band
• Lake St Martin
• Little Saskatchewan Band
• Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
• Northlands Band
• Norway House Cree Nation
• Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation Government
• Shamattawa First Nation
• Wasagamack First Nation
• Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation
• York Factory First Nation

Saskatchewan

• Cowessess Band
• English River First Nation Band
• Fishing Lake First Nation Band
• Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation
• Ochapowace Band
• Onion Lake Cree Nation
• Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation
• Poundmaker Band
• Thunderchild

Alberta

• Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
• Cold Lake First Nations Band
• Sawridge Band

British Columbia

• Boston Bar First Nation
• Chawathil Indian Band
• Gitxaala Nation
• High Bar Indian Band
• New Westminster Indian Band
• Oregon Jack Creek Indian Band
• Peters Indian Band
• Popkum Indian Band
• Semiahmoo Indian Band
• Skatin Nations
• Takla Lake First Nation
• Tl'etinqox Government

Yukon

• Liard First Nation

Northwest Territories

• Acho Dene Koe First Nation