Urban reserve facts outlined in report

The City began discussions with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in June on a potential development partnership as it relates to The Downtown Event and Entertainment District (The District). The prospect that it could become an urban reserve has arisen. 

An August resolution of City Council followed, resulting in the Administration compiling an information report to outline implications, opportunities, risks and requirements associated with the potential establishment of an urban reserve within the District.

The report was presented at the November 10 meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council.

“The report highlights urban reserves are seamlessly integrated into the community with no noticeable difference than any other typical development,” says Acting City Solicitor Jodi Manastyrski. “First Nations granted urban reserve status agree to pay to the City an amount equal to what other property owners would pay to receive the same services and also agree to follow the same development rules.”

The report explains that while the financial and development obligations and services remain the same, the legal framework that creates an urban reserve is what differs from other developments.

Notably, the existing SaskTel Centre and TCU Place are property tax exempt as civic facilities, so if future District facilities were on urban reserve and received the same benefit, this would not have an effect on property tax revenues

Negotiations with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation are ongoing and encompass a full range of potential partnership opportunities. These discussions include the possibility of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation owning and operating the new venues and providing a substantial capital investment that would significantly reduce the funding contribution otherwise required from other City funding sources identified within the City's funding strategy.

Since the 1988 creation of Canada’s first urban reserve in Saskatoon, eight others have been established with several others in the approval process. The Administration report notes urban reserves provide significant economic benefit to the City, First Nations and the Province. They are home to Indigenous and non-Indigenous-owned businesses employing thousands of Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees.

Overall, the Administration provides a detailed account of the complex process of what is involved in creating urban reserves, how they are governed and compatible with existing land uses, how they pay for the services provided by the municipality and how they also meet the goals toward reconciliation.

Along with joint correspondence in support of urban reserves from the Downtown Business Improvement District, The Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce and the North Saskatoon Business Association, City Council received the report as information.

The full report, attachments and committee discussion can be found here.

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