Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development I am pleased to respond to the question of the hon. member for St. Albert regarding the Alexander First Nation.
The hon. member suggests that the Alexander First Nation is not an example of good management. I disagree. The remarkable turnaround this first nation has made in a few short years deserves credit.
Three years ago the auditor of the Alexander First Nation gave a denial of opinion on the 1994-95 financial statements. At that time the first nation, in open consultation with its community, took a number of steps toward rectifying the situation, including holding open community meetings with the band auditor. Over the past two years the first nation has made positive steps by showing an operating surplus each year and plans to have no deficit by March 1999.
Under the terms of its remedial management plan Alexander must make arrangements for professional accounting assistance and provide monthly financial statements to the department. Regional officials meet regularly with band representatives to review progress on the plan.
Aside from the department's reporting requirements, the chief and council hold general band meetings each year to provide information to community members on the band's financial picture, to inform members of achievements and new initiatives, and to seek clarification on any issue. Each year, members are provided with a copy of the annual report which includes the financial statements.
In addition, this community, under the direction of the chief and council, has been able to reduce the number of community members on social assistance from 100 to 12 persons as a result of innovative economic development projects. These results illustrate real progress within this first nation.