COMM-1
FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES
February 8, 1996
His Worship Mayor Philip Owen
City of Vancouver
453 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5Y 1V4
CENTRE FOR MUNICIPAL-ABORIGINAL RELATIONS
Dear Mayor Owen:
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) wishes to establish
a Centre for Municipal-Aboriginal Relations as a practical response to a
wider public policy environment embracing Aboriginal self-government.
Municipal governments will be deeply affected by the proposed
devolution of powers to Aboriginal groups. The emergence of Aboriginal
self-government will force changes in municipal structure,
administration, service delivery, territorial integrity and financial
arrangements.
Municipal governments need a sustained national policy ability to
respond to increased efforts by the federal government to implement
Aboriginal self-government. While FCM's Standing Committee on
Municipal-Aboriginal Relations has done excellent work, its ability to
respond to all members is constrained by resource needs. The following
points describe some of the issues which need immediate attention:
- Tripartite negotiations among the federal and
provincial/territorial governments and Aboriginal authorities
include issues which have important urban components, such as
land, education and training, economic development, resource
sharing, service delivery, housing and co-management
agreements. Municipal governments continue to be excluded
from this process.
- Treaty Commissions and Treaty Land Entitlement Agreements are
advancing the Aboriginal agenda, especially in the areas of
land ownership and use, urban reserves or urban development
centres, and taxation.
- The federal government intends not to require blanket
extinguishment of Aboriginal rights when concluding land
claims or negotiating treaties. This lack of certainty will
affect if not impede resource management and planning by
municipal governments.
- The recent federal policy guide on the implementation of the
Inherent Right and the Negotiation of Aboriginal Self-
Government supports the development of non-territorial, urban
Aboriginal self-government. This type of urban self-
government would create single-purpose Aboriginal institutions
and systems with jurisdiction over Aboriginal people resident
in an urban municipality.
- The possibility of extra-territorial jurisdiction of First
Nations in relation to their members who live off-reserve in
urban centres raises questions about municipal service
delivery and costs.
- Taxation powers of First Nations will affect municipal
financial structures. The granting of these powers often
happens without the participation or indeed notification of
municipal governments.
- The creation of urban reserves has an impact on economic
development, land use and planning, tax revenues and all
municipal service requirements and costs.
The proposed Centre is meant to add a municipal perspective to the
evolution of Aboriginal self-government, be it land-based or
institutional. As well, it is designed to offer municipal and
Aboriginal governments access to best practices in intergovernmental
relations at the local level.
The federal government has committee $100,000 per year for two
years to assist FCM in this work. We must secure up to $200,000 each
year in matching funds to proceed, after which the Centre will function
on a cost-recovery basis by charging fees for service. The National
Board of Directors and the FCM Big City Mayors' Caucus have endorsed a
recommendation to seek voluntary contributions from FCM members.
I ask your municipality to consider a financial contribution based
on a suggested minimum amount described in the attachment.
Your support will allow FCM to respond in a practical and efficient
manner to a need for information and direction, as well as a need to
break the sense of isolation for individual members. The Centre will
add significantly to FCM's membership services. I look forward to your
positive response.
Sincerely yours,
John Les
President
JL/MH:tc
NOTE FROM CLERK: Councillor George Puil, Council's representative on
the FCM Board, and the City Manager RECOMMEND that
Council approve a grant of $6,000.00 towards the
Centre.
FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES
CENTRE FOR MUNICIPAL-ABORIGINAL RELATIONS
Voluntary Contribution Schedule
Based on Population Base
Population Suggested Minimum
Contribution
0 - 5,000 $ 1,000
5,000 - 10,000 $ 1,500
10,000 - 25,000 $ 2,000
25,000 - 50,000 $ 3,000
50,000 - 100,000 $ 4,000
100,000 - 250,000 $ 5,000
250,000 plus $ 6,000