Four First Nations Added to Fiscal Management Act
Order Amending the Schedule to the First Nations Fiscal Management Act: SOR/2026-21
This order adds Gwichya Gwich’in, Mississauga, Tl’azt’en Nation and Ts’il Kaz Koh to the schedule of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, allowing them to access the Act’s financial and tax tools. The order was registered on 2026-02-12 and lets these First Nations opt into property taxation, seek financial-management certification, and apply for First Nations bond financing.
- Published
- February 25, 2026
- Department
- Unavailable
- Section
- Order Amending the Schedule to the First Nations Fiscal Management Act
- Comment deadline
- Unavailable
- Effective date
- February 12, 2026
- Publication part
- Part II
Summary
Summary#
This Order adds four First Nations to the schedule of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, so they can use the Act’s financial and tax tools. The First Nations added are Gwichya Gwich’in, Mississauga, Tl’azt’en Nation, and Ts’il Kaz Koh. The order was registered on February 12, 2026.
What it does#
- Adds the names Gwichya Gwich’in, Mississauga, Tl’azt’en Nation, and Ts’il Kaz Koh to the schedule of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act.
- Lets those First Nations choose to set up a property tax system under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (as an alternative to the regime under the Indian Act).
- Lets those First Nations seek certification of their financial performance and financial management systems and, once ready, apply to access a First Nations bond financing regime based on property tax or other revenue streams.
- The Order came into force when it was registered on February 12, 2026.
Who's affected#
- The four First Nations named above: Gwichya Gwich’in, Mississauga, Tl’azt’en Nation, and Ts’il Kaz Koh.
- Residents, local leaders and band councils in those communities who would be involved in any future decisions about taxes, budgeting or borrowing.
- The national institutions that support the Act: the First Nations Finance Authority, the First Nations Tax Commission, and the First Nations Financial Management Board.
- Potential lenders or investors who might finance projects if a First Nation uses the bond financing tools.
Why it matters#
- It gives these First Nations a voluntary path to raise local revenue (for example through property taxes) and to use that revenue to fund community projects.
- It opens a route to borrow money through a bond regime, which can fund infrastructure and economic development.
- It supports stronger financial management and accountability, which can make communities more attractive to investors.
- The change is voluntary and follows requests from the band councils; it does not itself create new federal costs, according to the Order.
Key topics
Source: Canada Gazette