Our Authority

First Nation wood carving

The First Nations Fiscal Management Act (FMA) is optional First Nations legislation. It came into effect on April 1, 2006. The FMA established four First Nation institutions to develop practical, modern-day tools already used by other levels of government in Canada, and provide these tools to First Nations governments.

FMA Institutions

Barriers to First Nations lands investment

The FMA addresses barriers faced by First Nations when trying to attract investments to their lands. These include:

  • It is two to three times more expensive to finance infrastructure on First Nation lands.
  • It is four to five times more expensive to make investments on First Nation lands due to lack of investor confidence, legislative uncertainty, and a lack of financial information and statistics.

What the FMA provides

The FMA addresses these barriers by providing:

  • a framework by which First Nations can be eligible to borrow money on similar terms to other governments in Canada.
  • tools for First Nations to show they follow good governance and finance practices.

Read the full text of the FMA.

See participating First Nations.