Peguis residents outraged

Miranda is struggling to get through Christmas.

This 23-year-old single mom is expecting her second child. Recently, she asked the Peguis First Nation council for money to get by.

"Christmas time we asked for money because we only get $172.00 every other week and that's what we have to live off of."

But after seeing how much her Chief Glenn Hudson and the four band councillors made over the last fiscal year, she wonders why they turned her down.

"All this money that they're getting and they can't find it in their hearts to give us nothing."

Their incomes are outlined in documents the Canadian Taxpayers Federation received anonymously.

"These are fall off your chair numbers, 4 of the 5 council members were making more than the Prime Minister of Canada and you have to remember they were serving a community of 7200 people," says Colin Craig with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Chief Glenn Hudson made roughly $206,000, while his councillors made more than him. Long time councillor Glennis Sutherland brought home twice as much as Manitoba's Premier.

"How come they're making more than him? That's crazy," said Miranda as she reviewed the numbers for the first time.

Our attempts to reach Chief Hudson and his councillors by phone were unsuccessful, so we went to their homes. No one was home or answered the door.

Global news has learned that an audit on the band's finances is underway. Council is also planning to pass a by-law that would cap the Chief's salary at $170,000 and councillors at $140,000, but some residents say that's still too much.

"They're making too much money that's all I can say about that," said Marian Stevenson, a community elder.

And for Miranda, she just hopes some of that money will go to help those who need it the most.

Peguis First Nation - Population: 7, 200

CHIEF GLENN HUDSON

Salary, honoraria and other remuneration: $174,230

Travel: $32,151 (For 2008-09 fiscal year)

COUN. MARY SUTHERLAND

Salary, honoraria and other remuneration: $185,486

Travel: $39,932

COUN. GLEN COCHRANE

Salary, honoraria and other remuneration: $213,683

Travel: $48,313

COUN. DARLENE BIRD

Salary, honoraria and other remuneration: $220,366

Travel: $37, 239

COUN. GLENNIS SUTHERLAND

Salary, honoraria and other remuneration: $251,747

Travel: $58,984

Manitoba Premier: $153,769 (According to the province's latest public accounts docu¬ments, former premier Gary Doer made that much in the year ending March 31, 2009. Premier Greg Selinger will make roughly the same.)

Population: 1.2 million

Winnipeg Mayor: $114,053 (In 2008, Mayor Sam Katz made that much. A third of it was tax ¬free.)

Population: 670,000

Federal government MPs: $157,731 (That's the base salary this year for MPs. It was a little less last year. Cabinet ministers like Treasury Board president Vic Toews make an additional salary, bringing their pay up to $233,247 this year. They also get a car allowance of $2,122.)

Population: 80,000 average for Manitoba ridings.