The Legislative Chamber at Nisga’a Lisims Government has undergone some significant improvements over the summer.  Primarily for three purposes: (1) so where necessary, the government may go paperless in its meetings and (2) to improve the sound quality for both meeting participants and for observers in the public gallery and (3) to allow for simultaneous translation from Nisga’a to English during meeting proceedings.

Previously, individuals with softer voices were a challenge to hear throughout the Chamber due to the high ceilings and general acoustics in the room.  Now a total of 50 discussion units with microphones and speakers, plus a central unit have been installed to enhance the sound quality in the Chamber.  The Senheiser SDC 8200 conference system with incredibly sensitive microphones and speakers makes hearing for all easy and comfortable.

Computer monitors have also been installed to allow for ease of viewing electronic presentations during meetings.  2 participants sitting side by side will share a computer monitor to follow a presentation in real time at a meeting.  Three video inputs have been installed at various locations within the Chamber to allow a presenter to connect a laptop, blue ray player or a USB device and have the video displayed on the monitors.  The entire system will be controlled by a Creston control system.

Translation capabilities are also contained in the new equipment and software.  A dedicated location within NLG may be set up where the translator will have the ability to view and listen to proceedings in the Chamber and when required, provide translation from Nisga’a to English.  Meeting participants simply have to plug in individual ear pieces into the discussion units to hear the translation.

The system upgrades, which are now fully functional and operable, will be tested first by the Public Order Peace and Safety (POPS) Committee scheduled to meet on September 9, 2013.

The upgrades were deemed necessary and made possible through the Capital Finance Commission and the NLG Executive.