stjohns.cbc.ca
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Won't investigate Natuashish: Scott
Last Updated: Feb 17 2005 11:58 AM NST
ST. JOHN'S - The federal minister responsible for aboriginal affairs says he cannot follow up on the Newfoundland government's request for an investigation into how the Natuashish band council has managed its finances.
Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott said Wednesday investigations are something for the RCMP to conduct, and he is not about to call them in.
"It's not for me to make that judgment. It's an operational issue for the RCMP," said Scott.
Scott says people who have information on the band's spending should approach the RCMP.
While no formal complaint has been laid from people in the community with the police, some residents have written to Scott's department.
An independent audit of the band's discretionary finances – which are derived from commercial sources, including businesses co-owned by the band council – shows millions of dollars that cannot be accounted for.
The audit, obtained by CBC News as part of an ongoing investigation into problems in Natuashish, spells out a litany of problems. It was done by the chartered accounting firm Gardner Coombs, was completed last fall.
Simon Pokue, chief of the Natuashish band council, said in a prepared statement that he will not bend to a petition that has called on the band council to resign so new elections can be held.
"I will not resign. I have a job to do," wrote Pokue, who accused his opponents of spreading "false rumours" about him and the band council.
As for the financial problems, Pokue says most of the money received from the federal government is monitored by management firm KPMG, and "all discretionary money is subject to professional audit."
However, that Gardner Coombs audit, which covers the 2003-2004 financial year, has rekindled calls for a federal investigation.
The auditors could not find any paper trail of how the band's discretionary money was spent, or who received it.
The auditors also connected the financial problems to the band council itself.
Tom Rideout, the provincial minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, says the federal government should step in to sort how money is being spent in Natuashish. |
