Reduce the municipal funding gap

Community governments are essential partners in delivering programs and services to meet the needs of NWT residents, and they require adequate resources for this vital work.

This work will be led by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs with support from the Department of Lands.

What we will do:

1. Reduce the funding gap by $5 million

2. Refine funding model to ensure continued fairness and transparency

3. Provide communities new opportunities to raise additional revenue and reduce or stablize the cost of delivering core programs and services

How we will do it:

1.a. Increase GNWT funding to municipal governments

2.a. Engage with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC) to update funding policies and options for allocating any new investment by the GNWT

3.a. Develop a process guide for the transfer of lands within municipal boundaries

3.b. Work with communities to identify options to enhance own source revenues and find efficiencies in program and service delivery

How we will demonstrate progress:

1.a. Fiscal capacity for communities improved each year (Budget 2021, Budget 2022, Budget 2023)

2.a. New funding allocated in consultation with NWTAC (Spring 2020 - Winter 2023)

3.a. Process guide for the transfer of lands within municipal boundaries completed (Winter 2021)

3.b. Fiscal capacity for communities improved through own source funding (beginning immediately)