taxpayers group gives saskatchewan band chief award for waste - office air purifier

OTTAWA—
A First Nation Chief in the province of SA, who earns more than the prime minister, won a questionable award for annual awards for wasting taxpayer money.
The Canadian Taxpayer Federation has appointed Roger Redman, executive chief of the first nation in Buffalo, as the winner of the 15 national Teddy Awards.
Redman has 443 people in the reserve, and he takes home more later.
The federal government said at a news conference on Wednesday that last year's tax revenue surpassed Stephen Harper, who earned more than $317,000 in 2011.
In addition, the income of each member of Redman exceeds that of the prime minister of Saskatchewan.
Gregory Thomas, director of the federal state, said the Teddy prize was designed to give attention to corruption and waste at all levels of government.
"Sometimes it's enough that these greedy, crafty politicians make you cry," Thomas said . ".
"Once a year, we can laugh about it, and more importantly, we can laugh at them.
"Due to lack of funding, the first nation in Buffalo is working hard to maintain social services for its members, which makes Redman's salary the focus.
In January, when band members gathered to impeach the chief, he locked the band's office and community center together and confiscated the band's checkbook.
Redman and band elders are currently involved in a legal battle over the March 16 elections.
Last month, a Senate elder was forced to hold an election nomination in the cold as the lock at the band's community center had been replaced.
The office of the center and the band remained closed on Wednesday.
Redman, who insisted the election was illegal, could not be reached for comment.
Did not call his lawyer back immediately.
The Teddy prize was named after Ted Weatherill, former chairman of the Canadian Labor Relations Commission, who was fired on 1999 after submitting a series of questionable fees, including $700 for both
This year, former Alberta Tourism Minister Christine Cusanelli brought her mother and daughter to the London Olympics and charged taxpayers.
Kusanelli returned the money later.
These orders include a $143 bill, fixing a pencil sharpener on the table with four screws, and $266 for hanging three photos on the wall.
Oda, who left politics last year, was remembered for the expense of various drivers of luxury cars and for paying taxpayers for two luxury hotels in London on the same night, as well as a $16 orange juice.
She is also known to charge taxpayers for air purifiers so that she can smoke in the office.