By: John Ivison, National Pos Most Canadians would agree that something needs to be done about the dismal state of First Nations schools, from which less than half of young native men and women graduate. At the same time, those same Canadians will be appalled to discover that more than 80 aboriginal reserve politicians are [...]
Native Chiefs Make PM Look Like Pauper
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010By: Kenyon Wallace, National Post Scores of First Nations chiefs and council members earn more than the Prime Minister of Canada, according to newly released data obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation — a revelation that is prompting calls for greater financial transparency on native reserves. The figures, obtained through access to information requests, reveal [...]
The Fight Against Corruption
Friday, November 5th, 2010By: Derek Bacon CONGRESSMEN working late into the summer nights to overhaul America’s system of financial regulation were surprised when Bono started lobbying them. Yet the rocker-cum-campaigner helped to insert a far-reaching change into the legislation they were drafting. It has nothing directly to do with America’s financial mess, but it will push forward the [...]
First Nations last in openness
Thursday, October 7th, 2010By John Ivison The stories are as familiar as they are shocking: First Nations such as Manitoba’s Peguis band, where the chief earned $220,000 tax free — the equivalent of $383,000 off reserve; the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, where band councillors earned $175,000, compared with the average resident’s income of $15,000; or the 543-person [...]
PM takes flak over refusal to allow MP expense audit
Sunday, August 15th, 2010The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s inbox was deluged last May with hundreds of angry emails from citizens outraged that MPs wouldn’t allow the auditor general to scrutinize their expenses. “The Conservative Party won’t get one more cent from me unless that happens — now,” said one typically incensed correspondent. “The Tory [...]
Battling aboriginal tradition
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010By: Jeffery Simpson Mark Podlasly complains of aboriginal stereotypes: poverty, crime, poor education, unemployment. All are present to varying extents in aboriginal Canada, but there are lots of Mark Podlaslys, too: well-educated, articulate, professional aboriginals, living off-reserve, who don’t accept the vision of most of the country’s native political leaders. After almost a decade working [...]
WE DID IT!
Thursday, July 15th, 2010By Open The Books! July 15, 2010 – The Senate gave final approval today to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act with a landmark provision requiring energy and mining companies registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose how much they pay to foreign countries and the U.S. government for [...]