Documents filed as required by the First Nations Financial Transparency Act have been updated for the last fiscal year, outlining the remuneration and expenses for elected leaders in various North Coast bands.
In Lax Kw’alaams, Mayor Garry Reece received $110,720 in remuneration — which includes “any salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, fees, honoraria, dividends and any other monetary benefits – other than the reimbursement of expenses – and non-monetary benefits” — for the past 12 months. Full-term councillors had remuneration ranging from $77,860 for Stan Dennis Jr. To a low of $48,118 for Carl Sampson, while John Helin received $27,778 for his four months as acting chief. The total remuneration paid to Reece, Helin and 12 council members was $849,537.
In Metlakatla, Chief Harold Leighton received remuneration of $80,653, which included a salary of $62,000 and other remuneration for travel of $18,653. All council members received a salary of $32,000, while remuneration for travel ranged from $15,441 for Robert Nelson to $6,444 for Cindy Smith. Total remuneration for Metlakatla was $345,484.
In Hartley Bay, Gitga’at Chief Arnold Clifton received remuneration of $32,100. All councillors received an honoraria of $26,750 while total remuneration ranged from $94,247 for councillor and Marine Planner/Coordinator Kyle Clifton to $44,565 for councillor Cameron Hill. It should be noted that each of the other councillors listed in the filing had positions with the band included. The total remuneration paid to chief and council was $327,395.
When it comes to expenses for the Chief Councillors, Mayor Reece claimed $54,528, Chief Leighton claimed $2,425 on top of travel and Chief Clifton claimed $16,159.
The filings also outline the financial statements of the bands.
Lax Kw’alaams saw revenues of $58 million and expenses of $47.9 million for a surplus of $10.2 million; Metlakatla realized $17.7 million in revenue with $4.2 million for a surplus $13.4 million and the Gitga’at had revenue of $11.3 million and expenses of $10.2 million for a surplus of approximately $1.2 million.
The financial statements for the Gitxaala Band have not yet been posted.
