A proposal supported by Metro Vancouver to exclude First Nations reserves from municipal boundaries is being called racist by critics.
The recommendation, voted on by the region's board of directors at a meeting last week, states that natives and non-natives living on First Nations lands should not vote in civic elections because they don't pay taxes directly to the municipalities in which they are located.
The report, released by the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (LMTAC), claims that the issue of representation without taxation will grow as more non-natives move onto reserve lands. It cited the Squamish Nation development at Ambleside Beach as an example, stating that the percentage of eligible voters living on reserve land in West Vancouver could increase from 7.5 per cent to 30 per cent in the next 25 years.
But Squamish Nation Chief Gibby Jacob said the change would be a huge step backwards.
"It seems a little bit racist to me. And I can't think of a better word than that," he said, noting that the band pays 75 per cent of taxes it collects to the District of West Vancouver for services such as water, sewage and policing. It does not give money to TransLink.
"It's all about wanting to control what we're doing on our reserve lands. They were saying that municipal governments don't have a say in what the Indians can do on their lands. Well, quid pro quo has been there forever for us - we've never had a right to say what they're doing on their land."
District of North Vancouver Coun. Alan Nixon, who is also a member of LMTAC, said race has nothing to do with it.
"It's about tax fairness and equity for all people who live immediately within or adjacent to municipal boundaries."
While Nixon admitted that municipalities do get paid for primary services, he said plenty of other services go unnoticed.
"It's the soft things that aren't covered by the service agreement at the present time such as the ability of non-members to access libraries and recreation centres and take advantage of a whole sweep of municipally-funded services and amenities," he said, adding the Tsleil-Waututh Nation is currently negotiating a new service agreement with the district, which may take more of those into account.
If passed into law by the province, LMTAC's recommendations could leave non-native reserve residents, who cannot participate in band council elections, without any local vote.
"They may or may not have any ability to vote for the election of people who basically collect and distribute their taxes if you will," said Nixon.
"Up until now, I don't think anybody has really given any thought to that fact."
Currently, LMTAC is waiting for individual municipalities to give their endorsement before sending its formal position to Ida Chong, B.C.'s minister of community, sport and cultural development.
Brent Leigh, deputy chief administrative officer for West Vancouver, said the district is a long way from making any decisions.
"It's just to early to say how that will actually be dealt with," he said.
"I think one of the easiest ways to think about it is in the fullness of time, it would just be like having another North Van City or North Van District beside West Van. They will have their own governing structure and their own services."
Municipalities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan already exclude reserves from municipal elections. In B.C., members of the Westbank First Nations do not participate in West Kelowna elections, nor are Tsawwassen First Nations considered a part of the Corporation of Delta.
mkrishnan@nsnews.com
