WHEREAS municipalities have historically received grants-in-lieu funding from the senior levels of government; AND WHEREAS negotiations with First Nations could result in provincial andor federal lands being part of the negotiation process: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, should any existing provincial or federal lands for which municipalities receive grants-in-lieu become part of any negotiated First Nations Agreement, senior governments should consider treaty adjustment funding andor compensation for local government.
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations Reconciliation The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Ministry recognizes that local governments are concerned about this issue. However, local governments have the ability to generate revenue by providing First Nations with services like water, sewer and fire services. To make these service arrangements successful, local governments and First Nations need to build trust and respect to make their relationships last. The Ministry will continue to be instrumental in supporting these relationships by funding treaty advisory committees and supporting local governments. Around the Province of British Columbia there are many success stories among First Nations and local governments. One such example is among the Lheidli Tenneh First Nation, the City of Prince George and the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.
MINISTRY OF INDIAN AFFAIRS NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT FEDERAL INTERLOCUTOR FOR METIS NON-STATUS INDIANS Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is committed to resolving long-standing land claims, and to this end I have witnessed the joint initialing of three Final Agreements under the British Columbia treaty process Lheidli Tenneh, Tsawwassen, and Maa-nulth First Nations, initialed an agreement with respect to the Legislature lands in Victoria with the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations, and signed the Nunavik Land Claims Agreement. As you may know, federal land only becomes available for use as treaty settlement land if it is no longer required for program or operational purposes by the Government of Canada and is declared surplus. In a situation where federal surplus land, located within the boundaries of a municipality, is selected to become treaty settlement land, the land and jurisdiction over it would be transferred to the First Nation when the treaty comes into effect. At that time, federal grants-in-lieu of taxes would no longer be paid to the municipality and the municipalitys servicing obligations with respect to that land would cease. Municipalities and First Nations have worked together in the past on pre- and post-treaty land servicing arrangements and I support such initiatives. For example, Lheidli Tenneh and the City of Prince George negotiated a Comprehensive Master Agreement regarding harmonization of development, servicing and other issues of common interest.