It has been talked about for more than a dozen years but tomorrow the federal government will announce the details of an agreement made with First Nations over the Kapyong Barracks land.
Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and a number of Manitoba Chiefs have scheduled a joint press conference Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at Assiniboia Downs
The land has been the subject of a protracted battle between the federal government and First Nations in Manitoba since it was deemed surplus after the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s moved to Shilo just east of Brandon in 2004.
Under Treaty Land Entitlement provisions First Nation groups claimed they had a right to the land and took the government to court. In 2009 a judge agreed with their claim but the federal government appealed the decision. In 2015 former Prime Minister Steven Harper announced the government would no longer appeal the court’s decision regarding the land.
The First Nations group has said for years that they are interested in setting up an Urban Reserve which is an economic zone that would have commercial and residential development.
The City of Winnipeg has also been wanting part of the old military base lands to enable the widening of Kenaston Boulevard (Route 90)
Many of the buildings on the base have sat empty since the PPCLI left and have deteriorated to the point of needing to be demolished.
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