Yukon First Nations fail to meet disclosure deadline

 Four out of six Yukon and northern B.C. First Nations have failed to comply with a federal law that requires them to post their audited financial statements online.

Four out of six Yukon and northern B.C. First Nations have failed to comply with a federal law that requires them to post their audited financial statements online.

Daylu Dena Council, Dease River, Liard First Nation and Taku River Tlingit had until midnight on Sept. 1 to publicly disclose their financial data for the last fiscal year, in accordance with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.

Only Ross River Dena Council and White River First Nation had posted the salaries and expenses of its chiefs and councillors by the deadline, set by Aboriginal Affairs.

Ottawa has said it will withhold non-essential funding to scofflaw First Nations.

The transparency laws applies to the 582 First Nations in Canada that are considered bands under the Indian Act, but not to First Nations that already have self-governing agreements with the federal government. Eleven of Yukon’s 14 First Nations are self-governing.

“Beginning Sept. 1, 2015, bands that have yet to comply with the law will see funding for non-essential services withheld,” Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said in a statement Tuesday morning.

Liard First Nation is one of 10 First Nations in Canada that has failed to disclose its financial information for 2013-2014.

On April 8, the federal government took the First Nation to court in an effort to enforce section 8 of the First Nation Financial Transparency Act.