Atlantic Provinces First Nation chiefs highest paid Last Updated Fri, 30 Nov 2001 10:43:11 EST CBC News TOBIQUE FIRST NATION, N.B. - The Chief of the Tobique Reserve, Patrick Craig Francis, says he doesn't understand all the fuss over how much money he makes. On Tuesday, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation released salary figures for native chiefs across Canada. It found that chiefs in the Atlantic provinces are among the highest paid in the country. Chief Francis says he's worth every penny of the $52,000 he makes each year, tax free. He also gets a travel account which he says ran about $7,000 this year. 'We administer everything from our health-care system to making sure the ambulance runs' According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Chief Francis makes more than most chiefs in Canada. But Francis says it's a fair salary for what he has to do. "We administer everything from our health-care system to making sure the ambulance runs, the fire department, and we do all the paper work that's required to keep these programs up and running," he says. Some people on the Tobique reserve are having a tough time with the money Chief Francis makes. Max Moulton says he's barely surviving and he's not alone. "I'm only making a hundred and something a week with five kids and these guys are [making] two-three salaries," he says. "His wife is working; he's working; that's a lot of money." Chief Francis says his salary is approved by the band council who represent the people of Tobique. And in any case he's stepping down in two weeks to take a job with the federal government.