Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee met with the Minister on February 17, 2004 to review the draft 2004-2005 main estimates for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. The ministry is proposing a $48,000 decrease in operations and expenses from the 2003-2004 main estimate. The committee is concerned about the slow implementation of land claims agreements and hopes to see considerable progress during the term of the 15th Assembly. Despite the considerable number of years since the signing of the agreement with the Inuvialuit, Gwich'in and Sahtu people, there are still numerous issues that need to be addressed so that critical parts of the agreements can have practical effect. The long-standing need for amendments to the Wildlife Act is only one example.
Earlier this year, the Auditor General of Canada made public her report to the House of Commons on matters of special importance for 2003. Chapter eight of the report included a number of observations and recommendations about Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's approach to land claims implementation which was found to leave considerable room for improvement.
While the report is directed at the federal government some of its observations and findings could apply equally to the Government of the Northwest Territories. The committee strongly believes the GNWT must make its position on these findings and on its own land claim implementation responsibilities clear to northerners by preparing a formal response to the Auditor General's report.
The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight recommends that within 60 days the government prepare and make public a formal response to the Auditor General's observations and findings on land claims implementation within 60 days.
In reviewing the draft main estimates, Members noted that the budget for the ministry is not broken down between separate functions such as the directorate, internal administration, devolution and resource revenue sharing negotiations, and land claims and self-government negotiations. In the future, committee would like to see the Aboriginal Affairs budget defined in more detail.
The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight recommends that the Aboriginal Affairs budget be separated into multiple activities beginning with the 2005-2008 draft business plans.
Members noted that the mandate of the ministry as set out under GNWT policy 11.50 does not specifically make reference to negotiation of devolution and resource revenue sharing agreements and are concerned that it does not adequately reflect the works the ministry does on behalf of all northerners. Committee would like to see the mandate of the Ministry updated and restated more accurately.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That concludes committee's report and we are ready to proceed.