FSIN still working on response to ISC audit: Bobby Cameron

The chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says the organization is still working on its response to an audit by Indigenous Services Canada.

Earlier this month, Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said the ISC had completed the audit, which found that the organization owed more than $28 million, and communicated the outcome to the FSIN, but was still waiting for a response.

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FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron was asked for an update during an event on the Flying Dust First Nation on Monday afternoon.

“It’s not over yet. I’ll say that much,” Cameron said.

“We don’t know when it’s going to be finalized, so that’s pretty much all I can say about it.”

When asked if the FSIN has followed up with ISC, he said his staff is handling it.

“I’m not involved with the intricate details, so all I know is that it’s not finalized and complete yet,” said Cameron.

The essential findings of the revised audit covered the period from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2024, and identified a total of $4,805,760.58 in ineligible expenses and $23,938,821.07 in unsupported expenses. The majority of the unsupported expenses were attributed to COVID-19 expenditures.

Another area covered by the audit was travel expenses, including $1.2 million spent on fleet vehicles that could not be supported with documentation.

Another expenditure identified in the audit was more than $100,000 paid to a former employee’s consulting company, as well as more than $240,000 paid to the employee.

Other expenses mentioned in the audit include $1.9 million in ineligible administration costs, more than $808,000 spent on a new FSIN office building and $410,795 in internal charges and cost allocations.

As for when residents can expect a resolution to the back-and-forth between the two organizations, Cameron said he wasn’t sure.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” he said.