Aboriginal Law on the Aboriginal Side
First Nations Governance
Study on the Costs of the Legislative Components of Governance
This research report, completed by Price Waterhouse in 1997, is found on the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada website. It estimates the range of costs to support a governance structure in a small community.
The report begins with a review of the definition of governance. It then presents quantitative data on governance costs and a qualitative analysis of the results of the study done on a sample of fourteen small scale municipal governments, including the existing government of Sechelt in British Columbia. The report finds costs range between 3-7% of total expenditures. The paper concludes with a discussion of relevant contextual factors for future work (its applicability for First Nation communities and self-government negotiations). A final section lays the groundwork for further research on the costs of governance.