Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc pleased with Federal Governments FNPO legislation
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc pleased with Federal Governments FNPO legislation
Traditional territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, March 30, 2012 (Kamloops, B.C.) – The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) is pleased with the Federal Government’s recent announcement to support the First Nations Property Ownership Act (FNPOA) which will afford First Nations jurisdiction of their own land giving them land title rights that the rest of the country already enjoy.
“This has been a long time coming, it is our opportunity to finally own our land, to move beyond the Indian Act and replace the existing Crown ownership and include First Nation reversionary rights,” said Chief Shane Gottfriedson. “The benefits from the FNPOA are far reaching and will further enhance our commitment to education as this is the tool to drive and build our future as we continue to develop not only socially but economically.”
The Act will bring significant benefits to the TteS community such as:
• Increased tax revenues will enable the Band to support education, apprenticeship and other training initiatives to improve the prospects for all members, particularly young adults.
• Band members could hold title to their land and their homes. This will provide members with equity that they can use to start a business, renovate their homes or bequeath wealth to their children.
• FNPO could allow Tk’emlúps certificate of possession holders to obtain title to their lands thus raising the value of their lands and allowing them to participate in or finance their own development opportunities.
• The Band could use FNPO to address its housing demand and provide housing opportunities on TteS lands to members who currently have to live off reserve.
• The Torrens registry system guarantees title to the land and is more efficient than a simple deeds registry system. Title will allow TteS to move at the speed of business when development opportunities arise.
• When TteS uses FNPO to increase the value of their lands, it will increase the property tax base and generate more revenues to improve community services
• Using FNPO will increase the value of the land, it will increase the Tk’emlups property tax base and generate more revenues to improve community services.
“Even more than the initial benefits of the Act are the long term advantages including increased property values, increased tax revenues, $732 million in new investment, 7, 625 new employment opportunities and at least 50 new homes built by band members on the housing waiting list,” according to Fiscal Realities Kamloops.
With the TteS looking at many new economic and social development opportunities, the FNPO will help projects move at a much quicker pace and will really help assist the Band to support education and training opportunities for future generations.
