Attawapiskat chief goes on hunger strike
- Thread starter mentalfloss
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She had the audit last August.
She was/is living a pretty good life.
News crews were evicted.
She's in a Hummer2.
She ain't lost much weight.
Hunger strike my a s s.
Yep, totally made-up. :lol:
She's a farcical caricature. And that is a shame. Really.
Theresa Spence: Attawapiskat audit’s release is a ploy to discredit me | Canadian Politics | Canada | News | National Post
A series of audit letters accountants filed annually to Attawapiskat show that in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Attawapiskat failed to provide supporting documentation for spending in many instances. The documents were released to Postmedia News under the access to information law. Audit notes from 2009, 2010 and 2011 show that when accountants asked for an explanation “often, none could be provided.”
Over the same time period, audits also found that the senior officials on the reserve failed to even set a yearly budget and that payroll cheques were being printed without proper oversight from the band council — cheques that would have covered Spence’s salary and travel expenses in 2010-2011 of more than $71,000.
The most recent audit — made public Monday — found that going back to April 1, 2005, the band council didn’t properly prepare budgets, didn’t properly keep minutes to support band council resolutions, had “incomplete, insufficient, and inaccurate bookkeeping,” made “expenditures . . . without the available funds” and added that “journal entries were made with no supporting documentation.”
The latest audit of the Attawapiskat First Nation, which covers about 80% of the more than $104 million funnelled to Attawapiskat since 2005, included numerous entries in band council books such as a May 2, 2011 donation of $10,000 and more than $1.1 million in August 2009 to buy “buildings” with no supporting documentation. There was also a $2.3 million expenses payment to an unknown vendor on March 31, 2008 with incomplete documentation to explain how or why the money was spent.
A series of audit letters accountants filed annually to Attawapiskat show that in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Attawapiskat failed to provide supporting documentation for spending in many instances. The documents were released to Postmedia News under the access to information law. Audit notes from 2009, 2010 and 2011 show that when accountants asked for an explanation “often, none could be provided.”
Over the same time period, audits also found that the senior officials on the reserve failed to even set a yearly budget and that payroll cheques were being printed without proper oversight from the band council — cheques that would have covered Spence’s salary and travel expenses in 2010-2011 of more than $71,000.
The most recent audit — made public Monday — found that going back to April 1, 2005, the band council didn’t properly prepare budgets, didn’t properly keep minutes to support band council resolutions, had “incomplete, insufficient, and inaccurate bookkeeping,” made “expenditures . . . without the available funds” and added that “journal entries were made with no supporting documentation.”
The latest audit of the Attawapiskat First Nation, which covers about 80% of the more than $104 million funnelled to Attawapiskat since 2005, included numerous entries in band council books such as a May 2, 2011 donation of $10,000 and more than $1.1 million in August 2009 to buy “buildings” with no supporting documentation. There was also a $2.3 million expenses payment to an unknown vendor on March 31, 2008 with incomplete documentation to explain how or why the money was spent.
from the above article
Adding to the problems at Attawapiskat were the oversight failures from Aboriginal Affairs. The audit found that Aboriginal Affairs’ own policies on housing were ambiguous enough that it was difficult for the department to “adequately review or challenge the information reported” by the band council. Nor were the department’s regional offices required to “explain or provide context for performance reports” to head office in the capital region.
There's enough blame to go all around. I feel that a full forensic audit should be done to see exactly what has been happening. If it turns out that Chief Spence, the band council and anyone else is responsible then they should be dealt with accordingly. This should also extend to the AANC and the government of the time.
Adding to the problems at Attawapiskat were the oversight failures from Aboriginal Affairs. The audit found that Aboriginal Affairs’ own policies on housing were ambiguous enough that it was difficult for the department to “adequately review or challenge the information reported” by the band council. Nor were the department’s regional offices required to “explain or provide context for performance reports” to head office in the capital region.
There's enough blame to go all around. I feel that a full forensic audit should be done to see exactly what has been happening. If it turns out that Chief Spence, the band council and anyone else is responsible then they should be dealt with accordingly. This should also extend to the AANC and the government of the time.
The Dept knows which Bands have problems accounting for funds - and I have also stated that all involved need to be held accountable-
But here lies just one problem- a Band elects a Chief and Council- The Chief and Council then manage the finances so poorly shall we say - money spent - no invoices- no reasons why or where the funds went -complete mismanagement-
What does the Govt do. Can you answer that one for me please.
Some people seem to think (or are led to think by media) that if you don't swallow Theresa's charade that you are anti FN, unwilling to discuss the issues, heartless and by proxy, a war-loving neocon and all like that there.
Couldn't be further from the truth in my case man. This broad is a rounder, a possible crook and an attention whoar. Plain and simple.
Couldn't be further from the truth in my case man. This broad is a rounder, a possible crook and an attention whoar. Plain and simple.
That explains the $250K a house B u l l s h i t
If they were there being nosy, they'd complain of no respect and no self-governance.
So? Who is pocketing?
How about training in proper accounting practices. How about offering that training right from the get go instead of waiting 7 years or more.
If I was like levant, I'd say that the government set them up to fail and prolonged the process to guarantee a fail.
What the government SHOULD do is to stop all fundings until the natives can prove they know how to handle it.
Good point- But so is asking for training- the invoices may be a mess but they can be sorted out can they not. What about no invoices- no records. The paper trail should go thru a bank should it not?
And what about after that - not all bands are free of corruption. What about those.
Oh BALONEY.
Teaching someone to keep books showing where the money was spent should take all of 30 minutes.
Anyone that can balance a chequebook.,.......or do their own taxes.
Ok, thank you for that. This one was news to me and its likely that a lot of the issues are "localized" thus the average Canadian is not aware of them.
Yep!I think merely keeping the receipts would have done the trick, Gerry!-
Last month I get a letter from C R A,that they wanted my medical receipts for last year... they seemed to be questioning my expenses for the year...I e-file my taxes so I don'thave to send receipts but keep all paperwork for ten years.
I realized the reason for that letter was my expenses were about four thousand more than in previous year,so I promptly mailed it to them with a note explaining the reason for the disparity with previous years was that my wife and I both had new dentures done...
Last week I got my receipts back with a letter that my expenses were accepted.
Good book keeping is just a matter ofkeeping your receipts organized......
I think merely keeping the receipts would have done the trick, Gerry!-
Yup, that would have helped a whole lot. But then again, catching the fact that they weren't keeping the proper documentation back before 2005 would have prevented all this. Or is it a matter of the government NOT wanting to prevent this. Kind of like setting up someone to fail.
Tell me what the reaction would be if the Govt put a person in charge of a bands finances and had to sign off on any and all agreements etc.
I can see the headlines now. I am sure you can as well.
Who said anything about a govt employee in charge of a bands finances? I sure as hell didn't.
Still NFG. That's another place that leaks money. It's time to have Tribal MPs, MLAs MPPs etc.