Article content continued

But the bill’s opponents called it overreaching and simplistic, and say it adds to an already burdensome reporting process for bands under the Indian Act. They said most bands are already accountable and go above and beyond proposed regulations.

If the bands don’t provide required documents, a member of that First Nation or the minister of aboriginal affairs could go to court to obtain the information. Bands that don’t comply with the new rules could have their federal funding withheld.

The government says reporting burdens won’t increase; the act will publicize information that bands already provide to the ministry of aboriginal affairs.

“This legislation recognizes that First Nation members want no less than other Canadians when it comes to knowing how public funds are spent in their communities,” Valcourt said on Wednesday.

I think a lot of chiefs and councillors are going to be looking at this bill and scaling back their pay, because they know that starting next year, they’re going to have to start disclosing it

Colin Craig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which has pushed for the legislation since 2009, said he’s “ecstatic” at its passing.

“The sad reality is many people on reserves can’t find out how much their chiefs and councillors are making,” he told Postmedia News. “That’s something the grassroots have told us loud and clear they want to know.”

He also suggested the law could have immediate effects on some bands whose leaders aren’t forthcoming with financial information.

“I think a lot of chiefs and councillors are going to be looking at this bill and scaling back their pay, because they know that starting next year, they’re going to have to start disclosing it,” he said. “They can’t play this game anymore where they hide the information from the public.”