No deal in sight for Kapyong Barracks

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This article was published 12/09/2016 (3375 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — More than a year after renewed negotiations began between Ottawa and Treaty 1 First Nations over the development of the Kapyong Barracks, the two sides have yet to reach a deal.

During a campaign stop in Winnipeg in September 2015, then-prime minister Stephen Harper announced the government would not seek another appeal of repeated Federal Court orders for Ottawa to properly consult First Nations before selling Crown land. The orders related to a 1997 agreement between Ottawa and the seven Treaty 1 First Nations that gave the bands the right of first refusal when surplus federal land became available.

In 2004, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry left Kapyong for CFB Shilo and the Winnipeg barracks were abandoned. In 2007, Ottawa declared the land surplus and attempted to sell it to Canada Lands Corp. for $8.6 million. (Canada Lands is a Crown corporation that develops surplus land.)

The Treaty 1 First Nations went to court to stop the sale, arguing they had not been consulted. The case took eight years and multiple appeals before the decision in August 2015. Five days later, Ottawa put a new offer on the table. In September 2015, hope was high a deal was close.

The negotiations were taken over by the Liberals after they took office in November.

Sources say talks have been ongoing. The discussions include issues such as designating the land an urban reserve, price, and control over development.

None of the parties approached Monday would discuss the negotiations.

Sources tell the Free Press the parties were close to an agreement until a leadership change at Peguis First Nation in spring 2015 put things on pause.

Peguis Chief Cindy Spence did not return calls Monday.

The Department of National Defence is handling the negotiations for Ottawa. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is in Winnipeg this week, but his schedule does not include any work on the Kapyong file, his office said.

The negotiations are only for the barracks land: 160 acres at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard.

There is also a larger parcel of land with base housing (including along Kenaston between Grant and the St. James Bridge) but it is going to be dealt with in a different parcel. Most of those homes are currently rented and the land has not been declared surplus.

The legal battle over Kapyong cost Ottawa more than $1 million in seven years. Ottawa has spent millions more on taxes and basic upkeep of the barracks during the last 12 years while they have been vacant.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca