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National: Contract calling for no paper trail raises furore

Federal officials are under fire for a $132,000 contract signed with an outside consultant that specifies the firm must leave no paper trail in government offices. The deal Indian and Northern Affairs Canada signed with Ottawa-based Totem Hill Inc. explicitly states "presentations shall be oral with supporting material provided to aid comprehension, but not retained by the department." The February 2005 contract ensures there are no documents that auditors can later verify and citizens can consult through requests under the Access to Information Act. "Verbal reports are just completely unacceptable," said Tory MP John Williams.