A letter re accountability to Saskatchewan Senators

Dear Senators from Saskatchewan:

I wish to strenuously object to the passage by the Senate of the Financial Transparency and Accountability Act.  Please allow me to explain why.  

First of all, this proposed Act was initiated as a Private Members Bill by an MP from Saskatchewan who does not even have any First Nations home Reserves in her federal electoral district.  That in itself, without addressing the specific contents, of the proposed Act is a clear indication of the untoward spirit and intent of her Bill.  It is highly unlikely that any First Nations have asked her to do this.  If she is representing her constituents in proceeding with this bill, she is representing the underside of some very ignorant and racist notions about what actually goes on with First Nations and the Aboriginal Affairs Department.  I find it difficult to understand how a chamber of sober, second thought would want to lend credence to such motivations.  

Secondly, passage of this Act would further inflame the passions and motivation of the Idle No More movement and other initiatives underway by Aboriginal movements.  If I am correct, as one who fully supports Idle No More, I suppose I should really welcome the passage of this Act. But my better judgement would urge you not to add fuel to the fire.  I believe the issues that Idle No More and others are dealing with are sufficient to ensure that this movement will continue until its demands regarding land and water and First Nations sovereignty and the Treaties are met.  Aboriginal people need some indication that the Government of Canada, even if only the Senate, is treating them with respect and dignity, not further disdain and superiority.  

Thirdly, Canada must come to terms with the historical and legally established fact that First Nations never did concede sovereignty in their own territory.  Truthfulness (transparency) and accountability are character traits within the indigenous world view, not matters that can be legislated.  It is, as it were, a law written on the heart, and not a piece of paper or written document that will bring truth speaking and accountability about.  To impose a law would be counterproductive, and probably achieve the opposite of transparency and accountability.  To wit, note the difficulty that the House of Commons, and more recently the Senate, has in ensuring accountability, despite the accountability act that Steven Harper brought in.  The Parliamentary Budget Officer has to go to court to ensure he gets the information required to do his job, same thing goes for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and MP's refuse to let the Auditor General give an accounting on their salaries.  In fact, I am making two points here: 1) clean up your own act first before you go pointing the finger at others; and 2) you have no right to tell First Nations about standards of accountability and transparency, not only because the House and Senate and corporate CEO's are not doing it, but more importantly, because that is First Nations business, not yours.  Nothing in the Royal Proclamation of 1763 or the historic Treaties says anything about First Nations giving up their sovereignty or their capacity to govern themselves.  

Fourthly, there is nothing in the Indian Act (racist as it is) and regulations of the Aboriginal Affairs Department that prevents departmental officials from doing what Bill C-27 proposes to do.  In view of the controls that AANDD has, this proposed Act is redundant.  It is not necessary.  Why should special legislation be passed when AANDD can already do what the legislation wants to authorize?  I have some answers for that question but I don't think you would want to hear them.  

Finally, I have worked with First Nations and other Aboriginal organizations for almost 30 years, and I have a very good sense how onerous and oppressive current controls by AANDD are on a FN government.  They also create a double standard.  To impose further controls and paperwork upon the staff and government officials of a FN Band would in many cases be impossible to bear.  If this Act is passed, it should be accompanied with a whole lot of new money to help pay for the bureaucracy it would create.  Furthermore, many FN's are spawning businesses or economic development initiatives which, if they had to publish what this Act is demanding, would put these businesses at a distinct economic disadvantage in a very competitive world.  Once again, by voting in favour of this Act, you would be imposing a double standard.  Non-Aboriginal business have no such standard of accountability, and many of the big corporations are engaged in activities for which they should also be held criminally accountable.  Once again, clean up our own house first.  A good example is the best teacher.