The City of Thunder Bay could lose tax revenue as a result of returning land to reserve status, but it is not opposing Fort William First Nation's move to do so.
The lack of opposition is due to the potential future payoffs for the city in the long-run, such as industrial development, business spinoffs and jobs.
The Aboriginal community wants 26 hectares of land formerly owned by Canadian National Railway Co. to be returned to reserve status. The move means the city will lose an estimated $33,000 annually in municipal tax revenue. But Fort William First Nation wants the land for industrial development, which will lead to job creation and new business for the First Nation and Thunder Bay.
As part of the agreement with the city, the reserve will repair - at its cost - parts of the Darrel Avenue right-of-way to bring it up to the standard expected by the city's engineering division.
Fort William First Nation is responsible for its own police protection on the lands, but fire protection will be provided by the city, based on a previous agreement between the two parties.
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