Mark Pavan p15 Br. Saul Miller p 50 E-commerce buzz gets louder; Put pedals to the mental: wireless world beckons cycling sports psychology DECEMBER 15, 1999 Bright Lights eve 12 Classifieds ooo 52 Cresswerd ooo 56 High Tech ece 15 Knight ccoo7 North Shere Alert eee Our annual album Sports oes 50 : 4 ; : eR of much-loved Wright eco § Jol Ee , “py y North Shore pets 1939 Loradals Avenue, North Vancouver BC. V7M 2H4 ' : , : Pets peo ‘Canadkan Pubkcabons Mail Sales Prokxct Agreement No 0087238 GO Pages The Voice of Morth and West Vancouver since 1969 gs : FREE Squamish spending questioned audit, says band counc Deana Lancaster This fall, the Concerned Members of the Repor! ter@nsnews. Squamish Nation took their allegations public News ter dlancas com when almost 100 members of the band signed THE Squamish Nation coun- 2 petition and a plea for investigation and sent cil has said that, because of it id Orava, then followed it by speaking out to the media, the cost, it will not volunteer Yesterday, Indian Affairs spokesman Toni to undergo a forensic audit to Timmermans told the News that the petition is 1 all . £ still being reviewed by officers in the Indian clear up recent allegations o Affairs miniscry. When each is finished examin- wrongdoing. ing, the allegations — which range froz inade- quate financial reporting to membership, con- In a Monday morning meeting with the _ flict of interest and favouritism — the minister News, Squamish Chief Joc Mathias said the will decide if the petition should be passed on band’s council would not acquiesce to mem- to the RCMP, who would then decide if a bers’ requests that it submit its financial records —_ forensic audit is warranted. for a forensic audit, because “it would be a In a newsletter titled Communication For $300,060 to $400,000 cost to reconfirm what The Nation, sent to Squamish members last our auditors have already said.” “week, chiefs and council said the “claims of And in a Dec. 9 lecter to the chiefs and = fraud, corruption and financial mismanage- council, Robert Nault, the minister of Indian ment on the part of your Council and Affairs and Northern Development, said finan- Adiministration ... are based on unproven alle- cial statements for the past three years audited — gations by several members of the Squamish by the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche Nation.” It also included an overview of rev- have been unqualified, which means everything enues and expenditures for the year eaded in them appears to be accurate. Hz also said the = March 31, 1999. statements “indicate that the Squamish Nation “That information they’ve published still has been, and continues to be, in a favourable — doesn’t give me any more idea about where financial situation.” that money is going,” said Wendy Lockhart- But that doesn’t mean that band manage- Lundberg, speaking about the newsletter. ment has avoided a forensic audit. On Monday, Williams said members can yet Questions arose about the council’s man- information at the band office: “Audited state- agement of the nation’s money and land ments are available for any member to come in resources last summer, when some members (to the band office) and look at.” wanted to know how the band’s annual $32 But Lockhart-Lundberg said she won’t be million budget was being spent, and how — rushing down to the office for answers. financial decisions were made. “In past experience, trying to go in there At a Sept. 21, 1998, general mecting ons —_ for information, I’ve always been told ‘we can’t member passed a motion that the band under- get a hold of that,” or ‘I’m not authorized to go a forensic audit — a detailed investigation of — give you that information.’ [ni not going to the band’s management practices to determine — waste my time.” . if there was any wrongdoing. : She thinks complete statements should be The members present voted 92 in favour of mailed to members. the audit, 43 were opposed and 16 abstained “If was a sharcholder of a company, this from voting. But as with any motion to be — information would come to mc automatically. I decided by the membership of the Squamish — wouldn’t have to go in and ask for it.” Natioa, it has to be voted on twice. Lockhart-Lundberg said regardless of. At the second vote, on Nov. 29, 1998, 36 whether there is a forensic audit at this time, merabers voted in favour of 2 forensic audit, she believes there will eventually be an investi- 147 were opposed and 29 abstained. gation: “Ultimately, it will not be the minister i Chief Bill Williams, also speaking at the of Indian Affairs, it will be the taxpayers, ae Too hot for Christmas Squamish Nation administration offices on because it’s the same across Canada. Thoyre * WSST Van Fire Department educator Marcia James shows what can happen when Monday, said muttiple votes are necessary going to start asking ‘Why are conditions so ar tree isn’t watered for 10 days and is then Ignited. Natural trees need to be kept because of the size of the nation’s membership, . poor on reserves?’ ‘Why are education levels so ' feash. Leave them outside in a bucket of water until you're ready to decorate. and the complexity of some of the issues. low?’ “What's happening tq our money”’ ” Because were not getting any youmger 80% of us are thinking of getting in better shape for the new millennium... : ; ; We have created this special just for you! —TNESE) 2 for 1 initiation Fee! Or 50% Off - Membership WOME . Call us today.