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Purpose and status

• The bill gives legal effect to the Final Self-Government Agreement negotiated by the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, Canada and the Northwest Territories. The supplied text does not include the agreement itself, so it does not detail all self-government powers.
• The source labels the bill “second reading,” but the reproduced text also says it received royal assent on October 8, 2026. It provides no explanation for this discrepancy.

Agreement and government

• The agreement is declared a treaty under sections 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, has the force of law and is binding on all persons and entities.
• The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government becomes a legal entity with the capacity of a natural person. Its laws made in accordance with the agreement have the force of law.
• In a conflict, the agreement generally prevails over federal law, and the Act generally prevails over other federal laws. The Sahtu land claim agreement and its implementing Act prevail over this agreement, the Act and Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę laws.
• Subject to an exception in the agreement, the Indian Act ceases to apply to the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government and its citizens when the agreement-giving provision comes into force.
• A separate tax treatment agreement has the force of law while in effect, but is not part of the self-government treaty.

Courts and implementation

• Courts must take judicial notice of the agreements and registered Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę laws. The agreements must be published by the King’s Printer.
• The Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories has exclusive initial jurisdiction over judicial reviews of government and institutional decisions, after applicable internal appeal and review mechanisms are exhausted.
• Parties raising specified legal issues about the agreement, implementing legislation or Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę law must generally give Canada, the territory and the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government at least 14 days’ notice.
• Certain agreement provisions are deemed effective from November 20, 2024. The Governor in Council can make implementation orders and regulations, including setting the agreement’s effective and transition dates.

Changes to other laws

• Information and taxation: The bill adds the government to provisions of the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, recognizes it as a taxing authority for payments in lieu of taxes in specified circumstances, and lists it under the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act.
• Land and water management: Amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act give the government consultation and delegation roles. The Sahtu Land and Water Board must consult it before certain permits or authorizations affecting settlement lands or waters.
• The government may issue written policy directions to the board after consultation. These are binding within the board’s approved budget and prevail over conflicting federal ministerial directions, but not over conflicting legislation.
• Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę law can require permits for certain uses of settlement lands, or provide that permits are not required for certain uses within Tłegǫ́hłı̨. The government is exempt from specified fees for non-commercial water use or waste deposits on settlement lands.
• Environmental assessment requirements extend to authorizations under Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę law and certain developments proposed by its government.

Coming into force and costs

• Most listed provisions take effect on a date fixed by Governor in Council order. Certain local-government, property-tax and permit-exemption provisions take effect on a separately fixed date that cannot be earlier.
• A coordinating amendment concerning Bill C-10 applies only if that bill receives royal assent and the stated conditions are met.
• The bill includes a recommendation for appropriation of public revenue, but the supplied text gives no cost estimate or funding amount.