Proposal to allow First Nations to create satellite reserves alarms municipalities

[chemgear]

Sounds fairly ridiculous.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...081/story.html

B.C. municipalities are raising concerns over a proposed federal policy change that would allow First Nations bands to buy land and create satellite reserves anywhere in B.C. — even if they’re not next to their traditional territory.

A report to Metro Vancouver Wednesday warns the changes to the so-called “additions-to-reserve policy” would allow residential, commercial and industrial development in cities across B.C., resulting in the loss of land, taxes and costs associated with servicing agreements.

But in many cases, the First Nations will pay for some services but leave local taxpayers to foot the bill for others.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Maple Ridge or Surrey or wherever,” Drew said. “When these things occur, First Nations expect municipalities to provide services; they will take water, sewer and fire protection but won’t pay for libraries and recreation. Those are bones of contention now and this is only going to exacerbate it.”

[CaptainCrunch]

Seems bizarre

[puffnstuff]

Isn't this what that 'Freeman' tried to do with the house he was renting?

[Temporary_User]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Isn't this what that 'Freeman' tried to do with the house he was renting?

Beat me to it.

This is the opposite direction this country needs to be going in.

[J epworth]

Man the reserve system in itself is so bizarre in today's age anyways, and it gets even more bizarre in BC with so many bands with no treaty. No treaty allows them to claim reserve lands if they buy that land, so good for them for using what they have to their advantage. Doesn't make the whole situation any less bizarre though.

[Resolute 14]

The reserve system sucks, but until there is will on both sides to change it, it is what it is.

But creating new "reserves" that takes all government benefits while giving back nothing is just a case of people wanting to be leeches. The freeman on the land comparison is pretty damn accurate.

[GGG]

Saskatchewan has several urban reserves. They actually work quite well. The reserve negotiates a service agreement with the city and pays for things like water and sewage, policing, etc.

The the reserve is responsbile to mainting all of the roads, buildings and other things the city would normally be responsible for. In theory it should be a revenue neutral process. Really no different the Airdrie or any other suburb. So instead of this being a Reserve vs the white man debate it really should just be a parisite community debate.

The key to making it work is to make sure that they pay for the services they use. The Tsu Tina reserve after the ring road is built will very quickly adopt this type of structure.

[flylock shox]

There's precedent for this in the US too. Done right it makes sense as an imperfect solution to an imperfect situation.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by GGG

Saskatchewan has several urban reserves. They actually work quite well. The reserve negotiates a service agreement with the city and pays for things like water and sewage, policing, etc.

The the reserve is responsbile to mainting all of the roads, buildings and other things the city would normally be responsible for. In theory it should be a revenue neutral process. Really no different the Airdrie or any other suburb. So instead of this being a Reserve vs the white man debate it really should just be a parisite community debate.

The key to making it work is to make sure that they pay for the services they use. The Tsu Tina reserve after the ring road is built will very quickly adopt this type of structure.

I'm glad someone with some common sense and knows about how this works posted after all the chicken littles wasted no time in disparaging any plans the natives have to better themselves.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'm glad someone with some common sense and knows about how this works posted after all the chicken littles wasted no time in disparaging any plans the natives have to better themselves.

The only thing that stops anyone from bettering themselves...is themselves.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

The only thing that stops anyone from bettering themselves...is themselves.

Tell that to some girl in Afghanistan who is married off at thirteen. You'd fit in really well at the Tea Party.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Tell that to some girl in Afghanistan who is married off at thirteen. You'd fit in really well at the Tea Party.

It's all relative friendo

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

It's all relative friendo

and relatively the natives have had less economic, social and political options to improve themselves than the rest of the country. Now when they are trying to make this improvement, everybody gets their noses out of joint by spreading scare stories.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Tell that to some girl in Afghanistan who is married off at thirteen. You'd fit in really well at the Tea Party.

The timing of this comment is rather ironic given that a Pakistani girl who was shot for daring to be more than just her father/brother/future husband's property was one of the top choices for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

[FlamesAddiction]

If it works to get them enterprising and self-sufficient, then I am all for. If it's just another way for corrupt native leaders to profit at the expense of tax paying Canadians, then I don't like it.

I completely understand the need for Canada to be generous to First Nations people due to harmful historical events, but IMHO, the whole reservation system is still a hangover from those historical events and does nothing to bring about economic equality. If anything, the whole philospophy around it continues to segregate and impede progress except for those at the top of the First Nations heirarchy. I can't help but think the satellite reserve idea would lead to nothing more than an increasing wealth gap and a ghettoization of urban First Nations.

Canada really needs to set a goal with tangible benchmarks for sustainable First Nations growth. Some of this is economic development, but a large portion should also be integration into mainstream Canada.

[jammies]

If there's no special economic benefit to these reserves, why can't the natives just buy land and develop it like everybody else? I would think there would be large administrative costs associated with setting up these satellites - are the First Nations going to absorb that cost and then merely compete on the same level? This seems extremely unlikely.

What seems much more likely is that the federal government will be on the hook for the costs of setting these up, and then afterwards the First Nations will exploit the reserve advantages to cost local taxpayers some more. Is this really progress towards self-sufficiency?

Better rather to end the reserve system altogether over time, than extend it. Sustaining policies that create and maintain an underclass of citizen is a national shame and tragedy.

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't really think that this addresses a lot of the key concerns for the natives. I kind of get why they're doing it by maybe moving some people to more economically valid areas.

But I would like to understand what the oversights and conditions are.

I would have prefferred that they would have addressed individual ownership instead of just reserve or band oversight.

Just my two cents

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The timing of this comment is rather ironic given that a Pakistani girl who was shot for daring to be more than just her father/brother/future husband's property was one of the top choices for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

Why is it ironic when the problem still exists and this girl is still in danger. The problem isn't solved by some good publicity. Maybe you should bone up on the facts if you want to discuss a story as in this case her father is actually encouraging her.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

and relatively the natives have had less economic, social and political options to improve themselves than the rest of the country. Now when they are trying to make this improvement, everybody gets their noses out of joint by spreading scare stories.

And why is that? Is it still the "white" man's fault? Maybe they need to look to their leadership.....

There are more native bands thriving than not.

Don't look back, look forward

[Muta]

I can't wait until the day that the idea of the reserve system is gone, and everyone integrates with everyone else in a manner where you can still freely explore and promote your own heritage and culture.