Councillors at Tk’emlups te Secwepemc make nearly three times the salary of Kamloops City counterparts
KAMLOOPS – Tk’emlups te Secwepemc is one of just a handful of First Nations councils to comply with new federal regulations disclosing its finances — and some of the results may surprise you.
The band paid its chief and seven councillors $723,822 in salaries and expenses last year, according to statements filed under the new First Nations Financial Transparency Act. Governing a population of 2,577, that works out to $280.82 per person they represent.
That's more than twice the amount paid to the mayor and eight councillors on Kamloops City Council. They were paid $293,119 in salary and expenses last year. With a population of 73,472, the cost per represented population is $4.52.
All First Nations in the country are required to file financial information this month. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation claims partial credit for pushing the federal government to create the law after it exposed exhorbitant salaries paid to chiefs and councillors across the country. So far, only a few of the 600 or so bands in Canada have reported, or have had their results posted online.
This is the first opportunity the media and the public have had to scrutinize the books of First Nations, including Tk-emlups. The financial statements reveal the band is in relatively good financial shape with $43 million in reserves, topped up last year with a $3 million surplus.
Band chief Shane Gottfriedson would likely escape the taxpayer federation's finger pointing with his $92,362 in tax free salary, benefits and expenses — in 2013, Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar took home $98,138 in salary, benefits and expenses (one-third of salary is tax free).
The greater difference comes in payment to councillors. Band councillors made between $79,840 to $84,580. In Kamloops, councillors make just under $25,000 per year.
These comparisons are made only because of proximity to each other. Infonews.ca is seeking clarification from the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc on councillor roles and finances. Attempts to reach Gottfriedson or the band were unsuccessful.
Gottfriedson self-disclosed his salary at $58,000 in 2010.
To contact a reporter for this story, email gbrothen@infotelnews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
5 responses
I feel that as a FN person and with a husband & children that are KIB members I would like to see pay cutto Chief & Council and the money used to help our elders, the terminally ill, young single mothers, the youth or even to help our band’s social and economical issues with families without homes, jobs, drug and alcohol.When you compare the city of Kamloops mayor with just about 80,000 people and KIB with only 2,500 (not all members living on reserve.. we don’t) there’s a big difference. Lets put the money back where it belongs… helping the people!
This be why so and so from the such n such health organization is resigning.. finally has to disclose his income…
How about building our own treatment centres on our reserves so people can stay closer to their families! What about paying for after care when they come out and need to learn HOW to live with out alcohol or drugs or gambling!
But I SEE children with out new clothes, lunches for school, transportation to or from sporting events, used equipment (if they are lucky) or no equipment at all! What happened to doing this FOR THE PEOPLE, not just the money!
Being the Chief for KIB is a huge job and I strongly believe Shane makes things happen for his Band.He is a hard worker.