The provincial and federal governments publish hundreds of public documents every year. But few are as handsome as the recently released Nisga'a Final Agreement 2003-2004 Annual Report entitled Collected Wisdom. The 54-page, full-colour taxpayer-funded luxury-model booklet includes no fewer than 26 pages of photographs and graphic elements. And of the remaining pages, most are half-filled with blank space to give the publication a look that's more pleasing to the eye. The only expense that was spared was glossy pages. But, in an interview, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs chief federal communications advisor Peter Baird refused to say how many of your dollars went towards creating and printing that eye-pleasing look and feel.

"I'm not sure that's a particularly useful thing to share...I don't think it serves a purpose...But I can tell you this," he said. "I don't think the Nisga'a annual report is as expensive as some of the corporate reports that one sees." Although he also acknowledged those corporate reports aren't funded using taxpayer money.

Mr. Baird then went onto to defend the lavish document by saying the final agreement was a landmark event and the Nisga'a people have a recent history of publishing attractive books. So, therefore, "we didn't think the (design of the) annual report could be anything less than something that people would zero in on - something that would encourage people to get beyond the cover...and digest the information that was inside." Mr. Baird also added the document would be used to promote business opportunities.

Public Eye has filed an access to information request to acquire the final dollar value associated with producing the report. Mr. Baird was unable to say yesterday how many copies of the report had been produced or where they would be distributed. A version of this article was originally published in today's edition of 24 hours.