Community Government Learning and Development

Community Governance

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New Council Orientation

Community Government Learning and Development (CGLD) supports community government councils through in-person orientations. These orientations are provided after a new community government is elected, usually facilitated in the community by a regional Learning and Development Advisor through the MACA Regional Offices. Participants include newly elected councillors, existing councillors, the community’s senior administrative officer, and may include other invited staff. New council orientations generally cover:

  • Roles and responsibilities of councillors, council as a whole and mayor or chief
  • Roles of responsibilities within a government organization (governance and operations)
  • Roles and Responsibilities of other levels of government and stakeholders
  • Tools used by council such as bylaws, policies, resolutions, and plans
  • Financial responsibilities
  • Planning and reporting practices and requirements
  • Council conduct and procedures
  • Ethical obligations
  • Conflict of interest and other legal obligations
  • Understanding legislation

Community governments can contact the regional Learning and Development Advisor for more information.

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First Nations Governance Orientation

There are several communities in the NWT that do not fall under territorial municipal legislation because they are governed by a First Nation. This workshop covers many of the same topics as new council orientations but are provided by CGLD on behalf of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. To request a First Nations governance orientation contact the regional Learning Development Advisor for more information.

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Good Governance – Online Learning Modules Option

As an alternative to an in-person workshop, CGLD has online learning available for councillors and individuals who are interested in learning about Municipal and First Nations Good Governance. The online modules are designed to provide an understanding of how municipal governance works and the relationship between elected official, the senior administrative officer, staff, and the community. These short courses can be found on MACA Learn:

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Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is led by a community’s elected council and involves all community members. It expresses where a community government wants to be in three to five years both as an organization and as a community. It is a tool that keeps governments on track by focusing on important achievements and prioritizing activities.

CGLD provides customized strategic planning workshops for community governments. Depending on the community, this may include:

  • An introduction and overview of strategic planning and how to proceed with information gathering to start the process.
  • A facilitated exercise in determining a community vision, goals, values, risks, assets, and the prioritization of action areas based on previous public engagement.
  • Assistance in reviewing and updating current strategic plans.

For more information contact maca_cgld@gov.nt.ca.

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