Northwest Territories — Open Meetings & Public Notice Law

Sunshine Score

29/100

Weak

Methodology v0.1

Advance Notice	1 day
Public Comment	Not required
Closed Sessions	7 permitted categories
Minutes	Required
Recording	Not required
Remote Participation	Allowed
Enforcement	Voidable, legislature exempt

How is this score calculated? →

Agenda & Notice Requirements

Regular Meetings

1 day

Special Meetings

1 day

Online posting: Not required

Council adopts a procedure bylaw establishing the time and place of regular meetings and the procedure for special meetings. Annual meeting schedules are published. Special meetings typically require at least 24 hours' notice to council members and the public, stating the purpose, time, and place, posted at the municipal office.

Public Participation

Public Comment

Not required

Written Comment

Not allowed

Council meetings are open to the public. The Act does not mandate public comment periods at regular council meetings.

Virtual Meetings

Member Remote Participation

Allowed

Counts Toward Quorum

Yes

Public Remote Comment

Not allowed

Electronic participation is permitted where the procedure bylaw authorizes it. Post-2020 practice has formalized remote attendance for NT councils.

Closed Sessions

Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances

Permitted Categories

Meeting Minutes

Minutes Required

Yes

Online posting: Not required

Content requirements: The senior administrative officer must prepare minutes of each council meeting recording all resolutions and decisions. Minutes must be adopted at a subsequent meeting and are available for public inspection.

Recording & Broadcast

Recording Required

No

Broadcast Required

No

Enforcement

Violation Effect

Voidable

Standing to Sue

Any person may seek judicial review of a council decision made in violation of the open meeting requirements.

Enforcement Body

No dedicated open meeting investigator. Affected parties may seek judicial review in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.

Scope

This law applies to:

Legislature: Exempt (follows own rules)

Sources & References

Notes

The Cities, Towns and Villages Act covers only NT municipalities formally incorporated as cities, towns, or villages. Hamlets (the most common community type in NT) are governed by the Hamlets Act, SNWT 2003, c 24, which contains parallel open-meeting provisions. Charter communities are governed by the Charter Communities Act, SNWT 2003, c 23. All three acts share the same conceptual framework. Unincorporated settlements and designated authorities have their own governance arrangements. Indigenous self-government agreements (e.g., Tłı̨chǫ, Délı̨nę) displace the territorial municipal framework where applicable.