RCMP probes $4.2M paid to B.C. chiefs

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ies — Shuswap Woodlands Restoration and KDC Sand & Gravel — received another $1.36 million in undocumented funds.

SWR is owned by Dean Martin’s son, Robert, while KDC Sand & Gravel is owned by his other son, Richard.

Another $66,481 was spent during the period “on flights to destinations such as Las Vegas, Chicago and Varadero, Cuba for travel of an apparent personal nature,” Ernst & Young stated.

The audit also discovered two $15,000 amounts were “diverted” to pay the credit card debts of Dean and Richard Martin.

Another $20,000 went to pay down the line of credit of Pam Martin, Dean Martin’s former wife, while $28,000 covered travel and accommodation for a softball team.”

Canadian Taxpayers Federation spokesman Jordan Bateman said Martin has an unfair advantage in trying to win back control of the band council in the Nov. 8 election.

“Mr. Martin has hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on his campaign and to woo the very small Shuswap electorate,” he said Friday.

“It’s unlikely any of his opponents have those kind of resources. Hopefully, voters get access to the full information about how their council has been run and change things.”

Bateman urged the RCMP to devote sufficient resources to complete a full investigation.

“Corruption in our political system — whether on or off reserve — can never be tolerated or overlooked, as integrity is foundational to democracy,” he said.

Shuswap members “deserve to know exactly what has gone on with their band leadership and millions of their dollars.”

The salaries to the SamMartin family only became public, and the family ousted, after Postmedia’s disclosure of the band’s finances as reported under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.

Among the band’s contingent liabilities, according to its 2015-16 financial statements, is a $211,333 loan taken out by KDC Sand & Gravel. The band is also involved in litigation with exemployees, including Dean Martin.

The Trudeau government is no longer enforcing that Conservative legislation, saying the law wasn’t brought in with adequate consultation with First Nations.