During the review of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development noted a proposed $1,000,000 expenditure for a combined National Aboriginal Day celebration and pre-celebration events co-ordinated under the Living History Project.

The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development had a number of concerns about these projects and brought them to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight for review. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight agreed with these concerns, which are outlined as follows.

Members could not understand why the two initiatives were linked in the same line item in the main estimates, nor why funding for the Living History Project would fall under the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Combining the two makes it more difficult for Members and the public to understand the amounts proposed to be spent on either project. It also makes it difficult for Members to evaluate each of the projects without the inference that concern with one of the projects impacts on the other.

Members of the committee were concerned by the lack of detail on the proposed activities for the Living History Project. Aside from the brief outline of initiatives planned by this society in the main estimates, Members were disappointed to see no formal proposal for the funding requested. Members want to see an outline of the society's mandate and goals, an analysis of other funds received by the project from various private corporations and the federal government, and other relevant material to establish the organization's value and substance.

Members were also concerned that there had been no notice in the business plans that significant funding would be requested for this non-profit organization. Members noted the project has already received funding of $40,000 for start-up costs, and the draft main estimates requested a further $500,000. We were told this new funding was for pre-National Aboriginal Day celebration events, including a symposium and a review of the history of the past 25 years of the Government of the Northwest Territories. By adding the funding for this organization to the main estimates without going through the business planning process, some Members wondered if we might be accused of preferential treatment for this group when other non-government organizations have to follow a much more rigorous process to acquire government funds.

Without seeing long-term plans, Members were further concerned that funding for this organization may become ongoing.

As noted above, committee was concerned with funding for the Living History Project falling under the auspices of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is responsible for most grants and contributions offered to cultural or historical organizations.

Committee felt the government should address these concerns before the Legislative Assembly considered funding for the Living History Project. We advised the Minister of Finance by letter that the proposed funding should be removed from the main estimates, and that any proposal for funding should come forward as part of a supplementary estimate when our concerns had been addressed.

Members of the committee are pleased to see that the department addressed one of the concerns stated above and has supplied information showing that the budget items of National Aboriginal Day and the Living History Project have now been separated. However, in light of the concerns previously stated by the committee, we make the following recommendation: