For years, the CTF has challenged conventional wisdom concerning Aboriginal policy and building the case for change where others would not for fear of “political correctness.” Case in point: the Treaty 8 taxation case (Benoit v. Canada). At issue was Treaty 8 Indian Gordon Benoit who claimed an oral promise made to his ancestors in 1899 exempted him and all Treaty 8 Indians from having to pay any tax, for all time, anywhere in Canada.
Your CTF intervened in this case to argue what politicians would not: that a race-based tax exemption would violate equality provisions of the Charter, numerous international treaties, conventions against racism and basic principles of fairness.
If someone does not pay tax it should be because they are poor, not because of their racial ancestry.
While the CTF first lost the case in 2002, we won on appeal in 2003 and the Supreme Court of Canada finally dismissed the matter in 2004, winning a big victory for the equality of Canadian taxpayers.
The CTF is guided by the principles of support for individual property rights, equality, self-sufficiency, as well as democratic and financial accountability.
In 2010 for example, the CTF created a website, ReserveTransparency.ca to assist band members in learning about their rights in obtaining band financial information. The site was in response to the CTF receiving and publicizing “brown envelope” information dropped at CTF offices disclosing exorbitant salaries paid to some band chiefs and councilors.
The CTF did further investigation and pried loose federal governmnet information showing that in 2008-09, there were 50 reserve politicians that earned more than the prime minister, approximately 160 that received more than their respective premier and over 600 that had an income equivalent to about $100,000. The data also showed the average reserve in Canada has a population of approximately 1,142 people.
However, the data did not include any names.
Reasonable people can debate pay levels, but it seems ridiculous that in this day and age citizens don’t have access to how much their elected officials are being paid. Summed the Globe and Mail: “to disclose the salary and expenses of chiefs and councilors paid with federal funds is a needed step.”
A private member’s bill to disclose reserve politicians’ pay failed to pass, but returned in 2011 as a government measure in the form of Bill C-27. The government accepted CTF recommendations to broaden the bill to include a requirement to not just post chief and council’s pay online, but also audited financial statements. The bill received royal assent and became law on March 27, 2013.
Transparency has led to immediate results. For example, one community in Nova Scotia turfed its old crew and elected a new chief and council dedicated to accountability. The new chief gladly accepted a $90,000 pay cut; even letting band members decide her pay.
The CTF has made several appearances before committees and published many reports to challenge a status quo that has hurt both natives and non-natives alike.
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