Small band, big salaries

I find the pay that some of the Saskatchewan First Nations chiefs and councillors that are reported recently in the local newspaper seem to be quite a bit out of line with what happens in the rest of our province and I’m sure all small towns throughout Canada.  Using the example from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix article Small band, big salaries, a base salary of $94,977 for a councillor for a First Nation of 434 people is certainly out of line with what a councillor in a small town in Saskatchewan would receive. 

Using the example in the article for a First Nation with the population of 434 would be comparable to the Town of Hanley which has a population of 468.  The councillors in the Town of Hanley receive $100 per month if they attend a council meeting.  If the councillor doesn’t attend the monthly meeting then they receive zero.  So if the councillor attends every meeting in the year they would receive $1200.00.  For any outings that the councillor attends in the community (or other functions/duties) there is no extra pay, just the $100 for attending the monthly Town Council meeting.  Compare that to the First Nations salary of $94,977.00 and you definitely can see the problem.

Of course the small town councillor’s salary is paid by taxes by the citizens of the Town.  With the First Nation the salary comes from the Federal Government who of course gets the money to pay the First Nation councillor from the income taxes of small town Saskatchewan people and others throughout the country.  So how many First Nation people that live and work on the reserve pay property taxes?  I would say very few or probably none. 

It sure doesn’t appear to be rocket science why so many people feel there is just something definitely wrong with this situation.

Hearts A Tickin

What a nice morning for a walk-a-bout.  When I left it was –6C and the ground was frozen so it was easier to walk then in the mud of the last couple of days.  Not much of a moon out there so it was a bit darker than normal, but the stars were shining brightly.

I started out with a smaller dog come running and snarling at me within 1 minute of starting off.  Neighbour was out with his 3 dogs to let them have a pee break.  They are all smaller type animals.  One of them got loose of his leash and came charging at me snarling away.  At least the neighbour was right there to take control of his dog.   After all I sure didn’t want to put a size 12 down it’s throat so early in the morning

 

I finally got to the far edge of town and was walking up to this one house that has a lot of trees and bush around the doorway.  The streets are quite dark as well.  The owner has a homemade mailbox made out of wood and is fairly large to accommodate a couple days papers.  Just as I reached to drop off the paper his motion light finally came on and out jumped a cat that had been sitting on the mailbox.  The cat headed one way and I looked to head the other way.  Of course my heart was just a racing but at least I didn’t scream. 

I did mutter an obscenity however and had my head on a swivel for the rest of the walk home . . .