Mr. Speaker, insofar as Indigenous Services Canada, or ISC, is concerned, the response is as follows.
With respect to part (a), ISC continues to support the Okanagan Indian Band with the addition to reserve of the former Canadian National Railway corridor lands bisecting Duck Lake Indian Reserve No. 7. Canadian National Railway is currently the registered owner of the lands in fee simple, and Canada has previously provided Canadian National Railway with a draft agreement of purchase and sale to support the transfer of lands to Canada for the use and benefit of the band. Negotiations around the purchase and sale agreement are ongoing between Canadian National Railway, the Okanagan Indian Band and Canada.
With respect to part (b)(i), since the parties are in confidential negotiations on terms of land instruments such as permits under the Indian Act, it is not appropriate for the department to comment.
With respect to part (b)(ii), the Okanagan Indian Band continues to work to resolve third party interests, including property rights required by telecommunications providers, electrical transmission and distribution services, sewer utility interests and access agreements for on-reserve developments. The Okanagan Indian Band has taken the lead on these negotiations and has the support of legal and technical experts working to satisfy additions to reserve requirements. Canada has offered to support the band with its negotiations and has assisted with providing template documents.
With respect to part (c), there have been no meetings or briefings on this project with the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations or the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada since November 1, 2021.
With respect to part (d), the last communication between ISC and the Okanagan Indian Band regarding the addition to reserve was sent on November 15, 2022. The email communication was regarding the City of Kelowna replacement sewer permit that is currently being reviewed by the respective legal counsel of the City of Kelowna, Canada and the Okanagan Indian Band as a requirement of the additions to reserve process.
With respect to part (e), it is difficult to estimate timelines for completion, as completion of the addition to reserve is subject to the readiness and willingness of third party interest holders to terminate or negotiate and execute federal replacement interests with the Okanagan Indian Band. This is an ISC British Columbia region priority file, and the department continues to work in collaboration with the Okanagan Indian Band to complete the addition to reserve.