Guide to Service Agreements - FCM
Guide to Service Agreements - FCM
Guide to Service Agreements - FCM
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Saska<strong>to</strong>on is centrally located in the province<br />
of Saskatchewan on the banks of the<br />
South Saskatchewan River. The Saska<strong>to</strong>on<br />
area has been inhabited for 6,000 years and<br />
was first settled by Europeans in 1883.<br />
The first urban reserve in Canada was created<br />
in 1998 in Saska<strong>to</strong>on by Muskeg Lake<br />
First Nation. This new reserve was a result of<br />
the Federal Additions <strong>to</strong> Reserve Policy. “It<br />
was unique because of a series of agreements<br />
between the city and Muskeg Lake<br />
regarding compatible land use, services and<br />
tax loss compensation,” said Theresa Dust,<br />
City of Saska<strong>to</strong>on solici<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
<strong>Service</strong> agreements<br />
Before signing the first service agreement<br />
with the City of Saska<strong>to</strong>on in 1988, the<br />
Muskeg Lake urban reserve was a large,<br />
unserviced site. The first service agreement<br />
<strong>to</strong>ok some time <strong>to</strong> finalize because both<br />
parties were unfamiliar with the process and<br />
implications of creating a reserve within the<br />
city. It was a learning process for everyone.<br />
However, both the Mayor of Saska<strong>to</strong>on and<br />
Chief of Muskeg Lake were determined that<br />
the creation of an urban reserve should materialize<br />
for economic development reasons.<br />
The creation of the Muskeg Lake urban<br />
reserve and the signing of the service agreement<br />
created economic, social and cultural<br />
opportunities for both communities. It also<br />
provided opportunities for new businesses,<br />
which means potential jobs for the growing<br />
number of First Nations living in urban<br />
centres. The city benefits from the economic<br />
spinoffs of these new jobs and residents<br />
benefit from the services offered by the<br />
new businesses and amenities located<br />
on the lands.<br />
The land uses on the urban reserve are very<br />
broad, but as per the agreement, they do<br />
not include heavy industry. Every time a new<br />
business comes <strong>to</strong> the reserve it is required<br />
<strong>to</strong> pay a levy that Muskeg Lake then passes<br />
on <strong>to</strong> the City of Saska<strong>to</strong>on.<br />
In 1993 the communities signed a new<br />
agreement, the Municipal <strong>Service</strong>s and Land<br />
Use Compatibility agreement. The communities<br />
felt the process was much simpler with<br />
the newer agreement, given that they had a<br />
template <strong>to</strong> start with and they had worked<br />
through many of the initial challenges in<br />
1988. In the 1993 agreement, a service<br />
station was also turned in<strong>to</strong> urban reserve<br />
land. The later agreement also included a<br />
mechanism for binding arbitration, which<br />
is a standard clause in agreements with the<br />
City of Saska<strong>to</strong>on.<br />
Muskeg Lake wanted its parcel of land <strong>to</strong><br />
look no different than the rest of the City<br />
of Saska<strong>to</strong>on, which greatly facilitated the<br />
agreement negotiation process. In terms of<br />
access <strong>to</strong> services, Muskeg Lake residents<br />
receive the same benefits as any other<br />
Saska<strong>to</strong>on resident; however, in terms of<br />
jurisdiction, they are not. The City of Saska<strong>to</strong>on<br />
recognizes Muskeg Lake Cree Nation as<br />
a distinct government.<br />
The agreement signed between Saska<strong>to</strong>on<br />
and Muskeg Lake was similar <strong>to</strong> an agreement<br />
that would be signed between the<br />
city and developers. The City of Saska<strong>to</strong>on<br />
agreed <strong>to</strong> build all the basic infrastructure<br />
(e.g., sewers, roads) and Muskeg Lake<br />
agreed <strong>to</strong> provide services on par with what<br />
already exists in the city through a comprehensive<br />
service agreement.<br />
Muskeg Lake pays a fee-for-service (with<br />
the exception for education services) that<br />
is equivalent <strong>to</strong> property tax in Saska<strong>to</strong>on.<br />
In return, the city provides all hard and soft<br />
services such as water, wastewater, fire protection,<br />
street sweeping, etc. Muskeg Lake<br />
receives an annual statement outlining the<br />
services provided by the City of Saska<strong>to</strong>on,<br />
much like a property tax statement.<br />
UNIT 3<br />
<strong>Service</strong> Agreement Toolkit – 95