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Kwikwetlem audit different from last year

The aboriginal band whose territory spreads over Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam has unveiled its annual financial report.
Kwikwetlem First Nation Chief Ron Giesbrecht
Kwikwetlem First Nation Chief Ron Giesbrecht

The aboriginal band whose territory spreads over Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam has unveiled its annual financial report.

But the numbers from the Kwikwetlem First Nation are much different from last year, when the group gained national attention for its chief's hefty remuneration.

The audit, which was released today (Friday) under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act and signed off by Chief Ron Giesbrecht, councillors Fred Hulbert and Ed Hall and band administrator Dale Lessoway, shows details for the year ending March 31, 2015.

According to the statements, the 82-member band reported $5 million in assets — about half as much as in 2014 — and $2 million in liabilities — about twice as much as in the previous year. Among its $7.2 million in revenues were:

• $2.9 million from a capital fund;

• $1.1 million from Aboriginal Affairs and Norther Development Canada;

• $947,083 from Quantum Murray LP;

• $500,000 from loan proceeds;

• and $459,789 from miscellaneous.

As well, it reaped nearly $47,000 in fireworks sales — a bone of contention for elected and fire officials in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, which limit pyrotechnics — and $256,384 from the provincial government.

In 2014, Kwikwetlem gained $8.2 million from the BC Liberal government as a result of a controversial deal to extinguish its aboriginal title for surplus lands on Burke Mountain the Crown wanted to sell off to balance its books (with the chief also being the band economic development officer he received a 10% bonus, meaning he personally collected $820,000 from the agreement).

As for the band's 2014-'15 expenditures, it listed: $4.1 million in economic development, $2.8 million for capital projects and $1.2 million for band programs.

This spring, the band hosted an open house in Port Coquitlam to show the community its plans for a market housing, health and warehousing development on 113 acres of its territory.

According to its draft plans, Kwikwetlem wants to build two housing enclaves with occupancy starting in the spring of 2018, light and general industrial warehouses and a 120,000 sq. ft. office building for the First Nation Health Authority.

Meanwhile, on the remuneration and expenses front, Giesbrecht claimed much less than his $914,000 income last year. In his role as chief and economic development officer (which no longer carries the 10% bonus), Giesbrecht received $90,267 plus $22,900 in bonuses and $11,805 in expenses for the 12 months.

By comparison, councillor and fisheries officer Ed Hall received $46,254 in remuneration plus $31,900 in bonuses and $6,290 in expenses.

For their six months as councillors and capital infrastructure officers, Fred Hulbert and Marvin Joe each took in around $25,000 in remuneration plus $23,000 in bonuses and $3,000 in expenses.

jwarren@tricitynews.com
@jwarrenTC