The Budget Process

As the Chief Executive Officer for the Nisga’a Lisims, it is apparent that information must be shared on our website to inform Nisga’a Citizens of the Nisga’a Budgetary process. As the CEO, the apparent misinformation being shared on various platforms is not only inaccurate, it is divisive and does not reflect the age-old practice of Sayt Kilim Goot, and the pathway we chose as Nisga’a to work together.

The budget process consists of activities that encompass the development, implementation, and evaluation of a plan for the provision of services and capital assets. Budget decisions on funding are informed by annual proposals from Nisga’a Villages, Nisga’a Urban Locals, Nisga’a Lisims Government Departments, and Nisga’a Lisims Entities such as School District                         – #92(Nisga’a), Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute (WWNI), and Nisga’a Valley Health Authority.                                            –

The Nisga’a Nation, Canada and British Columbia entered into the Nisga’a Final Agreement (the Nisga’a Treaty”). The Nisga’a Treaty requires that the treaty partners enter into a fiscal financing agreement by which funding is provided to the Nisga’a Nation to enable the provision of agreed-upon public programs and services to Nisga’a citizens, and where applicable, non-Nisga’a occupants of Nisga’a Lands, at levels reasonably comparable to those generally prevailing in northwest British-Columbia.

Subject to the Nisga’a Nation fulfilling its obligations under the fiscal financing agreement, the Nisga’a Nation has the discretion to allocate and expend the funding transferred to it un-der this Agreement, in its discretion and as determined. Allocations of resources are shared across entities to meet the budgetary requests of ‘ALL” Nisga’a.

How the Nisga’a Nation allocates its funding is determined by the budget process set out in the Nisga’a Financial Administration Act, which is available on the NLG website. That Nisga’a law provides direction and deadlines for final budgets and provisions for public inspection:

January            21 -Projection of available funds in initial draft budget.

February        7 – NLG departments, Villages, and other recipients of transfers (including NVHA) submit their draft Budgets submitted to Nisga’a Finance Committee.

February     7 – 21 – Nisga’a Finance Committee reviews submissions and recommends a draft budget to NLG Executive.

March 27 – NLG Executive reviews the draft budget and makes recommendations to Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisga’a (WSN)

March 30 – Deliberations and adoption of Budget by WSN.

Every entity and department receiving funding from the Nisga’a Nation may make representations to the Nisga’a Finance Committee. These representations and information presented form the basis for the Nisga’a Finance Committee recommendation for approval to Nisga’a Lisims Executive. Nisga’a Lisims Executive then deliberates on the budget and recommends it for approval to WSN. WSN then undertakes its own deliberations and adoption of Budget.

A copy of the budget of the Nisga’a Nation must be made available during normal business hours at the principal administration office of the Nisga’a Nation for inspection by a Nisga’a citizen, upon request to the Chief Executive Officer. –                                                                           –

Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (NVHA)

The Nisga’a Nation has delegated its health services obligations, and certain FFA funding, to Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (an independent contractor), under a negotiated Health Programs and Services Delivery Agreement. As such, Canada health funding under the Fiscal Financing Agreement does not flow directly to NVHA.

Within 90 days of the commencement of each fiscal year, the Health Authority is to present the detailed annual budget and annual work plan prepared for the current fiscal year at a meeting of the Executive.

Budget decisions for NVHA are informed by these annual proposals by the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority. As a result, NVHA is allocated funding based on expenditure need, not based on what is provided by Canada for health funding. Over or under funding of certain programs and services is addressed by the Nisga’a Nation through its right to allocate and expend the funding transferred to it under the Fiscal Financing Agreement at its discretion.

We hope this message helps clarify the Nisga’a Nation’s budgetary process and addresses some of the information circulating on social media. Transparency and accountability remain central to our governance, and we encourage all Nisga’a Citizens to seek information directly from official sources. Let us continue to uphold the spirit of Sayt-K’ilim-Goot-one heart, one path, one nation-as we move forward together in unity and respect.

Andrew Robinson, Chief Executive Officer

Terry Holt, Chief Financial Officer

Find the link here for the original Press Release