Yellowknives Dene miss feds' deadline
Financial disclosure documents appear not to have been filed in accordance with First Nations Financial Transparency Act
Evan Kiyoshi French
Northern News Services
Friday, August 14, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknives Dene First Nation could face penalties for being tardy filing its expenses.
The website for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada still lists the First Nation as not having posted financial information as required by the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, which came into effect in the summer of 2014.
The act states First Nations that haven't provided the necessary papers 120 days after the end of the fiscal year could face "court remedies and administrative measures."
Last year's financial documents released in accordance with the federal legislation indicates that its fiscal year ended March 31.
If that remains the same, the Yellowknives Dene would have missed its deadline on July 29.
The legislation states that if a First Nation is in breach of any duty imposed on it, the responsible minister, in this case Bernard Valcourt, may require the First Nation to develop an appropriate plan to remedy the breach, withhold funding to the First Nation or terminate agreements to fund entirely.
When asked if the Yellowknives Dene statements may have been received by Aboriginal Affairs but not yet updated on its website, Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson Michelle Perron said the website is updated daily as the financial statements are received.
Chief Ed Sangris did not respond to Yellowknifer requests for comment before press time.
