Wôlinak leader Michel Bernard is suing four city councilors who “arbitrarily” reduced his salary from $1,500 a week to $600 a week.
It’s no secret: within the Wôlinak gang council there are two opposing clans, which are immediately described in the document filed with the court on November 20. And since 2022, Michel Bernard’s has been in the minority.
After the elections, the defendants actively participated in the implementation of measures aimed at isolating the leader and silencing any form of opposition, it is said.
So in June 2022, in the absence of [Michel Bernard]The defendants passed a resolution arbitrarily reducing the cook’s salary by more than half, from $1,500 to $600 per week.
Michel Bernard considers that this decision was taken without any justification and that this new salary no longer corresponds to the task assigned to him.
Salaries of chefs
The salary of indigenous leaders varies from community to community. It is impossible to compare it with the salary of a mayor, since the powers of executives are broader: they manage the budget, respond to citizens’ requests, negotiate agreements with governments, etc.
The document submitted to the court also points out that this maneuver is actually just a desire to satisfy revenge, to punish [Michel Bernard] of the decisions that have been made and which they contradict.
Stéphan Landry, one of the consultants, explains this decision. We have a code that governs the chief’s responsibilities, such as the role of community spokesperson to government agencies or the media. He says he repeatedly refused to do this.
That’s why the ax fell: We said, “You don’t want to do the job? So we lower your salary,” Mr. Landry continues.
The chief points out in writing that this argument is ridiculous and false, but also that it is not a valid reason to unilaterally change the rules regarding an elected official’s salary.
According to the consultant, the difference between the salaries of the boss and the consultants is too big. He believes it is unfair, especially when he compares the numbers with those of the neighboring Abenaki community of Odanak. In fact, in 2022, Odanak’s chief earned $55,407 and councilors earned $45,433.
The size of the community has no influence, says Mr. Landry, who believes everyone’s roles in the two communities are similar.
Stéphan Landry explains that in Wôlinak salaries are determined by resolutions that require the majority of votes of the councilors and the boss.
The boss is demanding compensation of $65,700 plus interest, which represents the loss of earnings since this decision came into force. All council members, four in number, are therefore asked to pay this amount together to the chief.
According to financial reports posted on the federal government’s website, Chief Michel Bernard in Wôlinak earned $81,978 in 2022 and $79,248 in 2021. Consultants’ salary was $27,326 in 2022 compared to $26,493 in 2021.
We could have done the opposite and increased our consultant salaries. But we’re a small community, so that didn’t make sense.
Contacted by phone and email, chef Michel Bernard did not respond to our interview requests. Instead, he wanted to provide some informative notes in writing.
So he recalls that it is common knowledge that three of the councilors of the Council are systematically against me and that we have diametrically opposed positions on the management of the Council and the Community.
He also believes this is an abuse of power.
It’s not a question of money, but a question of principle. Elected officials may not abuse their public offices for personal gain. For this reason I chose this activity.
This story is a new symptom of a deep division in this small Abenaki community. Two clans have been at odds for years, leading to a number of lawsuits, particularly for defamation.
His opponents also organized a demonstration in early November calling for Chief Bernard’s resignation.