Saskatoon, Lac La Ronge agree to convert CanNorth site into urban reserve

A deal between the City of Saskatoon and Lac La Ronge Indian Band will see the CanNorth site in Saskatoon transformed into an urban reserve.

The city and band signed the papers making the agreement official during a ceremony at city hall on Monday.

CanNorth, located at 211 Wheeler Street, is a private environmental consulting company which is 100-per-cent owned by Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership, the business arm of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

Chief Tammy Cook-Searson explained that the group started to explore the move back in 2016 after changes were made to a federal policy around additions to reserve land. Cook-Searson said she feels the move will give people in her community more employment opportunities.

“We’re hoping to have more of our band members getting into the sciences field,” she said.

“CanNorth provides baseline environment monitoring, whether it’s building a mine or bridge where species are at risk. We have about 80 scientists who work in that business. Once this property becomes reserve, then they’ll be able to have tax-free income on that property for the (employees) that are First Nations.”

Both Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark and Cook-Searson said the deal came together quickly, as most of the details were ironed out over the last 18 months.

“When we first entered the process a year and a half ago, we were told it would be about a three-year process. The collaboration with the City of Saskatoon has been amazing,” Cook-Searson added.

Clark mentioned that once the deal gets federal approval, it’ll become the 10th urban reserve in Saskatoon.

The mayor said it’s a good sign that First Nations want to invest in the city.

“This is the largest First Nation in Saskatchewan. Lac La Ronge has been operating CanNorth for many years, creating employment for people and (doing) important work,” Clark noted.

“That’s something that benefits our community, the nations and it creates jobs for everyone.”

The agreement signed on Monday also address how the city will provide municipal and police services to the urban reserve, and how the reserve will pay the city in lieu of property taxes and compatible land-use and development standards.