Yellowknife, N.W.T. - Hay River will have to wait for an arts and culture plan for the time being.

Town council voted down a proposal to have a consultant come in and help formulate a business plan to boost the economy using the arts and culture sectors.

Mayor Ken Latour said an arts and culture plan was a major initiative of the town, but he felt councilors didn't want to go through with it right now and it probably has to do with one issue.

"Despite the fact that I have been talking to council informally about this project for about this project informally for about a month now, explaining the project, at the end of the day they were uncomfortable with the idea of sole-sourcing this contract out."

The company involved is called Webb Management Services and is described as one of only a few companies that specializes in this type of consultancy.

Latour said Ben Nind from the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre was a major force behind this and suggested Webb.

"They were recommended to us by the executive director of NACC and I certainly take his word when it comes to this sort of endeavour."

The recommendation would have seen the town spend nearly $54,000 on consultant fees and other local costs, including wages.

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