The Untapped Potential of Urban Reserves in Northern Ontario
January 18, 2021 - On August 28, 2020, an economic flare was shot in the air signalling a new commercial path for economic development for reserves across Canada. The flare that was shot was opening the first Costco on First Nation lands in Canada on Tsuut’ina First Nation.
The Costco consists of 68 of 88 positions being filled by Tsuut’ina members and is Tsuut’ina’s first step of a larger $4.5 billion, 500- hectare business complex. Tsuut’ina Nation’s lands are adjacent to southwestern Calgary in what is known as an urban reserve.
Urban reserves are First Nation lands that are within or adjacent to a municipality. There are two types of urban reserves: 1) First Nations that are geographically fortunate to be adjacent to a municipality; and 2) First Nations that purchase or gain reserve lands via transfer lands in a municipality for economic growth. Through the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement, Peguis First Nation developed an urban reserve in Winnipeg whilst Peguis First Nation’s primary land base is two hours north of Winnipeg. Peguis First Nation’s act of a rural reserve developing an urban reserve is a model for reserves in rural Ontario and Ontario’s Far North to follow. Urban reserves occur across Canada but are often underutilized, particularly in Northern Ontario. Northern Ontario urban reserves include, but are not limited to, Fort William First Nation with Thunder Bay, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation with Kenora, Nipissing First Nation with North Bay, and Garden River First Nation with Sault Ste Marie. These First Nations and municipalities are situated in a way to gain the economic benefits of urban reserve developments.
There are several key economic benefits of urban reserve developments. First, businesses on reserve are income-generating for employees and are a tax basis for the First Nations. Second, urban reserves provide a reciprocal relationship to the First Nation and the municipality. Investments and economic growth made in the urban reserves provide new revenue and development for the city. For example, the Government of Alberta invested in expanding southwest Calgary to enable the Tsuut’ina’s business complex. Third, urban reserves best utilize reserve taxation. Section 87 of the Indian Act allows tax exemptions on income earned by First Nation individuals on reserve land. Furthermore, products purchased and sold on reserve do not have provincial and federal sale taxes attached. These tax benefits can aid First Nation businesses to be competitive with existing companies in municipalities. These benefits also assist urban reserves in drawing in high quality First Nation talent and increase employment opportunities for community members in a way that cities alone can’t. As First Nations often do not have enough homes on reserve to accommodate all of their members, the nearby municipalities benefit from an influx of First Nation talent.
There are considerable social benefits that stem from the economic development of urban reserves as well. The exchange of urban reserves hiring non-Indigenous staff and hosting non-Indigenous businesses creates a cross-cultural service to both participating sides. This act can help to destigmatize negative perceptions to develop complimentary views of the other through a shared economy. As half of First Nations individuals live off-reserve, urban reserves provide a safe cultural space in the city for urban Indigenous peoples. The cultural space creates diversity in municipalities that allow for more significant social interaction, innovation and growth for non-Indigenous and Indigenous parties .
Tsuut’ina Nation’s Costco is a model of an urban reserves that demonstrates the economic and social benefits that the Northern Ontario First Nations and municipalities should stride towards. However, Costco is but one example. There are various locations in Northern Ontario, both across Northern Ontario that could capitalize on this opportunity for shared growth. Urban reserves have immense potential from empowering young First Nations entrepreneurs to create something new or enriching municipalities with diversity that reserves have. The economic and social benefits of urban reserves are waiting to be tapped across Northern Ontario.
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Kaufmann, Bill. “With Tsuut’ina store, Costco opens its first location on a Canadian First Nation.” Calgary Herald. August 28, 2020. https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/with-tsuutina-store-costco-opens-its-first-location-on-a-first-nation.
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James Barsby is the Legal Counsel for the Government of Nunavut and past NPI Experience North Summer Placement.
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