UPDATE: Updated with response from Indigenous Services Canada.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is not commenting on reports of Indigenous Services Canada performing a forensic audit.
This past weekend, a letter was leaked from Indigenous Services informing the FSIN of a planned financial audit. The letter was sent out on Friday.
In the letter, ISC informs the organization the audit will cover expenditures from April 2019 to the present day. It says the audit is “in accordance” with several funding agreements.
KPMG will be conducting the audit.
At an unrelated press conference at the FSIN office in Saskatoon Monday morning, FSIN Vice-Chief David Pratt was asked about the audit and he responded saying “no questions” and “no comments” on any other matter.
No timeline was given on when the audit would be completed.
ISC says audit issued following allegations.
The following is an emailed statement Indigenous Services Canada provided to MBC Radio News on the matter:
Indigenous Services Canada is aware of the allegations brought forward regarding the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. Following a review of the allegations, Indigenous Services Canada is planning to conduct a forensic audit.
We will not be providing information on the status of the audit. Due to privacy concerns, the Department does not comment on specific allegations or complaints, other than to confirm if an allegation or complaint has been received.
The Department takes allegations and complaints regarding the misuse of public funds very seriously. To that end, the Department has put a process in place to ensure these allegations and complaints are examined properly and that appropriate action is taken.
The allegations against the FSIN are unknown at this time.