Transparency & Accountability

A pillar in the foundation of good governance is a government’s ability to maintain transparency and accountability in its day-to-day operation. The Constitution of the Nisga’a Nation (Nisga’a Constitution) came into effect on May 11, 2000, and provides for the establishment of Nisga’a Lisims Government, each of the four Nisga’a Village Governments, and the three Nisga’a Urban Locals. The Nisga’a Constitution further called for the enactment of Nisga’a Laws, which, among other things, contain provisions for transparency and accountability in government decision-making and financial administration.

One of the many laws enacted since the Effective Date, the Nisga’a Government Act sets out requirements for the frequency of meetings of various bodies, such as Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisga’a (WSN), the NLG Executive, the Council of Elders, and other House committees of Nisga’a Government.

The Nisga’a Government Act also includes the Members’ Code of Conduct, which specifies requirements with respect to the conduct of each elected and appointed Nisga’a representative while serving in their official capacity. Nisga’a Government’s standards of financial administration are comparable to standards generally accepted for governments in Canada. There are requirements in Nisga’a Laws for budgets, quarterly reports, annual reports, and audits of the financial activities of Nisga’a Government and Nisga’a Public Institutions. The Nisga’a Financial Administration Act stipulates details for oversight, management and control of all financial matters of the Nisga’a Nation, Nisga’a Government, and Nisga’a Public Institutions.

Under the Nisga’a Financial Administration Act there must be an annual independent audit of financial statements of Nisga’a Government and Nisga’a Public Institutions which is made available for inspection by Nisga’a citizens and is available on the Nisga’a Lisims Government website. The Nisga’a Nation is also accountable to the governments of Canada and British Columbia for the funding provided by those governments and fulfills this obligation by submitting reports and audits, annually or as required.

Modal Title

Any content could go in here.

×