Yellowknife (Sep 18/06) - The GNWT has so far received proposals from 13 communities on how to spend their share of a $35 million windfall from the federal government.

"The proposals have been, generally speaking, very well thought out and capture the essence of the program," said Dan Schofield, the director of the School of Community Government, which administers the fund in the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA).

Schofield said proposals usually range from one to a half-dozen projects.

They include such things as expansion to offices, new housing, cultural and youth centres, road upgrading, and planning and feasibility studies.

When the fund was announced last year, the government asked each community's main political groups - municipalities, First Nations and Metis councils - to agree how the money should be spent.The windfall went into the Community Capacity Building Fund.

Proposals have been submitted by Fort McPherson, Whati, Gameti, Wrigley, Hay River Reserve, Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Yellowknife, Sachs Harbour, Fort Good Hope, Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik and Fort Simpson.

"The very first community to submit was Hay River Reserve," Schofield said, noting the proposal was received on Nov. 8, 2005.

The reserve decided to spend its $710,000 share on such things as a culture camp, expansions to a daycare and an adult education centre, and a new arbour.

Eight communities have already received funding totalling about $9 million.

"No proposal has been turned down," Schofield noted.

There are still 20 communities remaining to submit proposals.

"A number are well under way and will soon be submitting," Schofield said.

MACA hopes all proposals will be in by the Nov. 1 deadline, he said. "But I don't think we'd be surprised if a handful of communities didn't meet the deadline."

Communities might then ask for more time.

There has been debate in some communities, but all are working "valiantly" to reach an agreement, Schofield said.

MACA has offered to assist communities which may be having trouble coming to an agreement, but none have asked for help.

Hay River Mayor Diana Ehman said the municipality, the Hay River Metis Council and West Point First Nation have yet to agree how to spend the community's $1.9-million share of the fund.

Ehman said part of the problem is the GNWT didn't clearly explain what the decision process should be. "I believe the homework wasn't done before the money came out."

The mayor said it's going to be tough to get an agreement by the deadline.

Ken Hudson, the president of the Fort Smith Metis Council, said no agreement has been reached on the community's $1.5-million share.

"It's a real thorn in our sides here," he said.

The municipality rejected the latest suggestion from the Metis and Salt River First Nation on how to divide the money - $300,000 to the band, $300,000 to the Metis, $300,000 to Northern Life Museum and $586,000 to the Town of Fort Smith.

While Hudson noted the three parties are still talking, he said the best hope for an agreement would be a change of opinion by town council after October's elections.