1. Creating Opportunities for Qalipu First Nation
Qalipu Business Park

2. Agenda Qalipu First Nation Business Park Concept
Partnering For Success
Conceptual Plan for Moving Forward
Next Steps

3. Agenda Item # 1 Qalipu First Nation

4. Qalipu First Nation(QFN)
Mi’kmaq have always been present on the island of Newfoundland
However when the colony joined Canada it “pencilled out” any references to Indians
As a result recognition of First Nations was delayed by many years
In 1985 the Miawpukek First Nation and Conne River reserve were created
The two Innu governments and reserves in Labrador came on in the early 2000’s.

5. QFN (Continued)
Qalipu was recognized as a First Nation in September, 2011 as a “landless band” (reference Section 7.1 of the Agreement in Principle) over concerns with respect to assuming provincial responsibilities and increased costs associated with social services, housing and K-12 education.
Qalipu First Nation currently has 24,454 Band members and a Ward structure consisting of Nine (9) Wards.
The Qalipu Band manages a range of programs and services for its members including economic development, employment and training, health and education.

6. Agenda Item # 2 Business Park Concept

7. Urban Reserve Defined
"Improving the social and economic circumstances of First Nation people is a major priority for the Government of Canada. By offering First Nations economic opportunities that are unavailable in rural areas, urban reserves serve as springboards into the mainstream economy. They reduce operating costs and provide better access to capital markets and transportation routes, enabling First Nations to diversify their economic base. At the same time, they contribute to the economic and business development of urban centres across Canada. All Canadians benefits from their success.”
INAC – Urban Reserve a Quiet Success Story

8. Urban Reserve – Creating Opportunity for First Nations

9. Qalipu Business Park Defined
Qalipu Business Park will be considered as Lands for which a First Nation acquires reserve status for the limited purpose of economic and cultural development.
Currently there are 123 such parcels of land in Canada. Saskatchewan has 53. We plan to build our model on the ideas of a true partnership between the First Nation, Municipal, Provincial and Federal Governments for the mutual benefit of all our people.

10. Qalipu Business Park Characteristics
Land is set aside with restrictions on use for economic purposes (non-residential)
Band obtains jurisdiction, authority & responsibility over land
Properties and businesses in the Qalipu Business Park are exempt from municipal & other government taxes
Water, sewer, fire protection, and other services are usually fulfilled through service purchase agreements with municipalities or private suppliers
Band Councils can create a competitive advantage through establishing their own taxation and user fee levels

11. Benefits of Qalipu Business Park
Some of the benefits of the Qalipu Business Park include:
potential for self-generating revenue
increased employment opportunities
business development opportunities for the Qalipu First Nation and its members
contribution to community development
benefits to broader surrounding communities
contributes to self-sufficiency for Qalipu First Nation and its members.

12. First Nation Advantages
Reduced dependency on federal government funds
Standard of living of members raised
Helps First Nation meet their cultural, social and financial development objectives
Creates a centralized location for First Nation government, businesses and organizations

13. Municipal Benefits Financially, the local municipality benefits from:
revenue generated through services it provides to the Qalipu Business Park developments and from tax loss compensation when applicable
directly from municipal tax revenue of Qalipu Business Park employees that live in town
indirectly from Band expenditures
employment and business creation generated by spin-off initiatives

14. Municipal Benefits (Con’t)
Political benefits emerge through the creation of new and positive relationships between the First Nation and the Municipality.
Begin with service agreements and bylaw harmonization, then build toward new joint efforts
Socially, this development:
is a symbol of First Nation people making a positive contribution to the greater community
the daily exposure to the culture creates better awareness, understanding, and relations
creates new jobs and attracts new people to the workforce and community

15. Summary of Benefits to Municipality
Evidence suggests both Qalipu and local government benefit from the Qalipu Business Park:
increased revenue to municipality
stronger linkages between First Nations and municipal governments
create an increased demand for services
positive impact on local and regional economic development

16. Partnering for Success
Agenda Item # 3
Partnering for Success

17. Partnering for Success
Qalipu First Nation
Municipal Government
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Government of Canada

18. Qalipu Business Park Joint Committee
Qalipu First Nation
Chief Brendan Mitchell
Central Region Vice-Chief, Joe Bouzanne
Corner Brook Ward Councilor, Brian Dicks
Stephenville Ward Councilor, Gerard Alexander
Qalipu Band Manager, Keith Goulding
Consultant, Gerry Kerr (Chignecto Consulting Group)

19. Qalipu Business Park Joint Committee
Municipality Representatives
Province of Newfoundland & Labrador
Director, Aboriginal Affairs, Brian Harvey
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
TBD

20. Conceptual Plan for Moving Forward
Agenda Item # 4
Conceptual Plan for Moving Forward

21. Phases in the Process Planning phase Engagement and negotiation phase
Develop a conceptual plan for the Qalipu Business Park
Engagement and negotiation phase
Engage stakeholders, including the municipality, province, federal and other parties
Application phase
The First Nation submits a proposal with required information, supported by the Band Council
Federal approval phase
Federal approval, land acquisition, and order-in-council creating the reserve status

22. Conceptual Plan Components
Infrastructure and services
Governance
Land management regime
Own-source revenue
Community support

23. Agenda Item # 5
Next Steps

24. Next Steps
Finalize the partnership for the Qalipu Business Park Joint Committee
Secure funding for conceptual plan development
Qalipu Business Park Joint Committee meetings
Community engagement
Intergovernmental liaison

25. Questions?