Additions to reserve: Policy Redesign
Co-develop policy through a First Nation-led process.
Why redesign the 2016 policy?
Lands are central to First Nations' traditions, identity and prosperity. They are a crucial asset for advancing self-determination, economic development and well-being. Canada is committed to working with First Nations to remove systemic barriers, and to co-develop transformative changes to the Additions to Reserve Policy. These changes will meet First Nations' needs, and will help build healthier and more sustainable communities and regions.
For information on the administration of Additions to Reserve, consult Additions to Reserve: Implementation and process.
Since its introduction in 1972, the Additions to Reserve Policy has been incrementally updated, most recently in 2016, but the changes have not addressed First Nations' concerns regarding the complex, time-consuming process.
Budget 2021 provided $43 million between Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), starting in 2021. This money is used to work with First Nations partners and other stakeholders to redesign the federal Additions to Reserve Policy and to accelerate work on existing requests from First Nations across the country.
CIRNAC's policy redesign includes engagement with First Nations organizations, rights holders and communities across the country. The goal is to support First Nations-led engagement to advance recommendations that will contribute to a co-developed policy. Supporting First Nation-led engagement is an important first step in co-developing options for the Additions to Reserve Policy redesign.
Engagement
With the understanding that each First Nation has unique needs and goals, we are collaborating with interested First Nations partners in a way that best suits their community.
Through engagement, we are working alongside First Nations and First Nation organizations to redesign the Additions to Reserve Policy.
To learn more about engagement activities on the Additions to Reserve Policy redesign, consult Engaging on Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign.
Co-development of the Additions to Reserve Policy
The Government of Canada will put community needs first by seeking First Nation driven policy options through engagement with First Nations and First Nation organizations. Doing so is an important step on the path of reconciliation with First Nations.
To read more about the intent of the redesign and how the Government of Canada will include the voices of Indigenous peoples during the Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign, consult: Engaging on Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign.
Related legislative framework
The addition to reserve or reserve creation policy and process is supported jointly between the departments of CIRNAC and ISC. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations is responsible for approving additions to reserve and reserve creation pursuant to the Addition of Lands to Reserves and Reserve Creation Act (ALRRCA) and the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management and the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management Act (FAFNLMA), by way of Ministerial Orders. The Minister of ISC is responsible for the administration of reserve lands under the Indian Act, as well as the operational policy and processes for the implementation of additions to reserve and reserve creation pursuant to ALRRCA and FAFNLMA.
ALRRCA came into force on August 27, 2019, to facilitate the setting apart of lands as reserves for the use and benefit of First Nations. Some of these benefits include an increase in economic development opportunities through increased access to lands and resources, additional procedural tools to create reserve land, and timelier decisions.
Through ALRRCA, all First Nations have access to the same procedural tools available through the former Claim Settlements (Alberta and Saskatchewan) Implementation Act of 2002:
- Additions to Reserve proposals are now approved by Ministerial Order
- First Nations have the option to pre-reserve designate or zone lands prior to lands being set apart as reserves to address the continuity of existing third-party interests
Land Code First Nations
Through the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management Act, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations may, by order, and at the request of a First Nation with a land code in force, set land apart as a reserve for the use and benefit of that First Nation. Alternatively, First Nations that are operational under the Framework Agreement can also use ALRRCA to add land to reserve, before transferring administrative control of the newly added lands under its land code.
Consult: First Nation Land Management: Policy and legislation
Past and current Additions to Reserve Policies
Since the first appearance of an Additions to Reserve Policy in 1972, there have been small incremental changes to the policy over 3 revisions. The current 2016 policy can be accessed through the Land Management Manual - Chapter 10.
Contact the Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign Unit to request a copy of the past policies.
- 1991 Additions to Reserve Policy
- 2001 Additions to Reserve Policy
Contact us
For all inquiries, please contact us:
Additions to Reserve Policy Redesign Unit
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
25 Eddy Street, 6th Floor
Mail stop – 25E-32
GATINEAU, QC K1A 0H4
Toll-Free: 1-833-860-7778