Committee members concluded that adequate funding, training and facilities must accompany downloading of programs and services. Furthermore, regions and communities must adhere to an effective and auditable third party accountability framework. We need to know if communities are managing and administering their programs and services in an accountable, safe and effective manner. The committee is aware that the need for a third party accountability framework was mentioned as a concern of the Auditor General of Canada in his Report on Other Matters for 1998-1999. The Secretariat agreed.
In the previous government, the capital planning process was initiated with each community receiving a call letter from the Premier. The community would submit its list of capital projects and priorities to the Premier's Office. Currently, selected departments have haphazardly adopted the call letter approach, Mr. Chairman. A consistent capital planning process across government is not apparent. Committee members suggested that the current capital planning process needs to be reviewed. In addition, the committee reiterated its concern for public safety by pointing out that communities must have enough funding to properly operate their facilities.