Three First Nations Added to Fiscal Management Act

Summary#

The Government of Canada issued the Order Amending the Schedule to the First Nations Fiscal Management Act (SOR/2026‑76) to add three First Nations to the Act’s schedule. The order was registered on April 24, 2026 and published in the Canada Gazette on May 6, 2026; it took effect on the registration date (April 24, 2026).

What it does#

• Adds the following First Nations to the schedule of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act:
  • Nahanni Butte (Northwest Territories)
  • Swan Lake First Nation (Manitoba)
  • Walpole Island (Ontario)
• Lets those First Nations access the services and tools available under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, including:
  • the ability to set up a property tax system under the Act as an option for raising local revenue;
  • seeking certification of financial performance and financial management systems;
  • applying to participate in a bond financing regime to borrow against revenue streams.
• Reflects formal requests from the band councils of those First Nations to be added.
• No new costs to the federal government were identified for simply adding names to the schedule.

Who's affected#

• Directly affected:
  • Nahanni Butte
  • Swan Lake First Nation
  • Walpole Island
• Organizations that work with First Nations under the Act:
  • First Nations Finance Authority
  • First Nations Tax Commission
  • First Nations Financial Management Board
• People in those communities may notice changes only if their local governments choose to use the Act’s tools (for example, introducing property taxes or seeking loans). Otherwise, nothing changes automatically.

Why it matters#

• Joining the schedule gives these First Nations access to tools to raise money and manage finances locally. That can make it easier to fund community projects and infrastructure.
• It creates a legal pathway for these First Nations to borrow from capital markets (via a bond regime) using local revenue streams, which can expand investment options.
• The change is voluntary: communities must still decide whether to use these tools. The order itself is an administrative step that responds to the First Nations’ requests.