Chief Wallace Fox of the Onion Lake Cree Nation speaks at a press conference this afternoon. Photo from Mzhakdo Kwe / Twitter

The Canadian government is threatening to cut funding to dozens of First Nations that have failed to comply with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.

First Nations were always required to provide financial reports as well as salary and remuneration information to the government. But the law makes the information public for the first time.

The vast majority have submitted reports and some have posted the information on their websites. But 61 are resisting and they were told they could lose funding by December 12, CBC News reported.

"This tactic is designed to force local compliance to an unjust law by denying families access to essential programs and services," a group of First Nations that signed Treaties 4, 6 and 7 said in a statement, CBC reported.

To combat the threat, the Onion Lake Cree Nation in Alberta and Saskatchewan filed a lawsuit against the government today. "We decided, enough is enough," Chief Wallace Fox said at a press conference, CBC reported.

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development said it will start posting the names of non-compliant First Nations. Submitted reports can be found at pse5-esd5.ainc-inac.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/SearchFF.aspx?lang=eng

Get the Story:
First Nations to 'resist' complying with financial transparency act (CBC 11/25)
Onion Lake Cree Nation takes Ottawa to court over transparency law (CBC 11/26)
Onion Lake First Nation takes Harper government to court over transparency law (APTN 11/26)
First Nations told to go public or be punished (CP 11/26)

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Editorial: Holding First Nations leaders accountable for earnings (8/5)
Canada posts reports of salaries earned by First Nations leaders (8/1)