A senate hearing was underway in Ottawa on Tuesday to examine a proposed government bill that would force First Nations to publicly disclose their financial information on the Internet.
In the morning, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples listened to a delegation from the Sawridge First Nation in Alberta.
The chief, Roland Twinn, said he had grave concerns about Bill C-27 because it would force band-owned businesses to open up their books to competitors.
“So if they were able to look at financial information from our corporations, they may be able to look at it and get an understanding that they may not be as strong as they seem,” he said. “So, if we bid lower and lower and lower, we can push them out.”
One senator told the chief there was a clause in the bill that means businesses will only have to supply basic information but the band’s executive director responded by saying this data could still give big corporations a huge advantage over a band.
Twinn says he feels the government is being shortsighted in its attempt to hold chiefs to account for their expenses.
He says this is something the membership should be leading.
The Sawridge First Nation Chief adds he feels disappointed the bill will likely get passed no matter what First Nations leaders have to say about it.