Human capacity can also be an obstacle, as service agreements require significant investments in time between the two communities to build relationships, discuss legal implications and resolve technical problems related to infrastructure and service delivery. Often, small communities with limited human resources will find it a challenge. [1] Saskatchewan has seen an increase in urban Indian reserves since the adoption of a country authorization process (TEL) in the province. [7] Since these lands are acquired within communal boundaries, full service agreements are generally accepted, so that there is no interruption in the quantity or quality of service. Service contracts for urban Indian reserves are considered mutually beneficial, as the First Nation is able to use low-cost services due to economies of scale and municipalities are not affected by the loss of municipal land. The City of Saskatoon is an example of a municipality involved in several global First Nation agreements – municipal services for urban Indian reserves. [4] [8] British Columbia has the largest number of Indian reserves in Canada and, unsurprisingly, the largest number of first nations – municipal service agreements compared to any other province. [1] Civic Info BC [5] has a number of examples of nation- municipal agreements available on its website for public access. [6] Because First Nations and communities work under different laws, First Nations and municipalities have different electoral cycles for local representatives. This can be a unique set of barriers to partnerships in the Community. Political fluctuations can lead to a change in local priorities, a lack of established human relations between municipal councils and group councils, and a lack of organizational memory with respect to service agreements and relationship-building efforts. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) designates First Nation – Municipal Service Agreements (MTA) or Municipal Service Agreements (MTSA).
[2] According to the AANDC, agreements between two First Nations or between a First Nation and a provincial government, a municipal government, a private contractor, a Crown Corporation, an individual or an organization that includes the provision of municipal services may be. [2] The development of a service agreement can be complex and intimidate those responsible for the important role of managing these services. However, the process can be divided into stages: Ontario has the second largest number of First Nations in Canada and has the second largest number of Municipal Service Agreements in the First Nation. Most agreements deal with fire protection and municipal waste. Pathways for Service Delivery contains templates, guides and other resources to guide First Nations and local governments through the various stages of developing a service agreement. The new „Developing Municipal Type Service Agreements“ textbooks complement these resources. These manuals serve as reference documents for the Pathways to Service delivery guide and service agreement templates developed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).