The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight recommends that the government develop more detailed categories for "other expenses" to justify the request for funds; and further that, where possible, these categories be consistent across government; and further that, one of the categories should cover items on the controllable asset inventory list that are now, under the new tangible capital asset accounting system, considered as an operations expense.

Information Supplied in Overhead Presentations and Other Documents

Members were concerned about the amount of information that was not included in the departmental business plans but supplied in overhead presentations and other documents not previously available to the committees. This additional information does not become part of the public record because committee consideration of business plans and budgets are confidential.

While the business plans do eventually become public, the overhead presentations do not. While the committee does not want to discourage departments from supplying information, it is the opinion of the Members that the level of detail in overhead presentations should be in the business plan. It is also suggested that documents used to support the business plans be supplied to the committee well in advance of the review.

Sectors of Government Involved in Intergovernmental Negotiations

The committee has serious concerns about the numerous sectors of government that are involved in self-government, land claims, devolution and resource revenue sharing negotiations. In the past year, the Department of Executive has added the Intergovernmental Forum Secretariat to coordinate the GNWT participation in aboriginal, territorial and federal government discussions such as devolution, resource revenue sharing, oil and gas developments, the fiscal relationship with Ottawa, and northern control over northern resources. A regional relations section assists the regions in preparation for the transfer of government programs and services through capacity building and aboriginal self-government.

Another section added to the Executive, Intergovernmental Affairs, assists in the preparation of strategies to address territorial, national and international issues. There are also sections in the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs; the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs; Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development; and Health and Social Services involved in intergovernmental negotiations.

With so many sectors of government involved in intergovernmental negotiations, the committee wonders about the real potential for the inefficient use of people and government funds; funds that could possibly be better spent on infrastructure or other essential programs or services for the people of the Northwest Territories.