Hmmmm. Seems I Chose the Wrong Career

Some First Nations chiefs earn more than premiers: Records

"It can be more lucrative to lead a native reserve in Canada than to run an entire province, according to newly-released federal records on First Nation salaries.

The elected chiefs of at least 30 aboriginal communities were paid more than $110,000 — all of it tax free — in 2008/09. That's more than the average, after-tax income of $109,983, paid that same year to Canada's premiers, says the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

For months, the federation has been lobbying the federal government to publicly disclose what aboriginal chiefs and band councillors are paid, in the name of improving accountability and transparency among reserve governments.

It recently received, under the access to information law, a list of salaries and honoraria paid in 2008/09 to the chiefs of more than 500 First Nations across Canada.

The highest individual salary in 2008/09 was $247,100, while 45 other unnamed chiefs earned at least $90,000.

But the records also reveal how little other chiefs are paid. More than 80 chiefs received less than $30,000 in salary that year, while five were paid no salary or honoraria at all."

[---]

"The Taxpayers' Federation says band chiefs and councillors are the only politicians in Canada whose pay levels are still kept secret. It says Ottawa should be required by law to publicly disclose all band salaries, regardless of whether the money comes from the government or from band-owned enterprises.

Saskatchewan Conservative MP Kelly Block has a private member's bill before Parliament aimed at making reserve governments more transparent. If passed, the bill would require the federal government to fully disclose the details of band salaries.

The bill is supported by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, but opposed by the Assembly of First Nations, which represents the country's more than 600 band chiefs"

Should have gone into the bitching and whining industry instead.