Yellowknife (Mar 24/06) - City Hall should not finance social welfare organizations - including a breast-feeding support group - with grant money, several councillors said Monday.

“I really question where we are spending our money,” councillor Doug Witty said during a committee meeting where members discussed how to dole out $100,000 in so-called special grants.

The city is over-stepping its mandate by funding bodies like the Yellowknife Breast-feeding Support Group - which is slated to receive $850 this year - Witty said. The money, which still needs to be approved during a full council meeting, is earmarked to buy promotional fridge magnets.

“We need to put seed money into things that give the community good value,” Witty said.

Yellowknife should not finance social groups whose duties fall under the responsibilities of the territorial government, said councillor Wendy Bisaro.

“We should not have to provide social services for the GNWT,” she said.

Overall, 25 groups have received the preliminary go-ahead for $100,000 in grants.

The top grossing organization is the Yellowknife International Air Show, which could receive $15,000, in addition to the $10,000 it has already received.

Other notable beneficiaries with committee approval include: