Membertou First Nation land base to double following federal land deal

The Membertou First Nation’s land base will expand following a federal announcement.

Membertou First Nation’s land base will essentially double as the result of a federal announcement made Wednesday in the Cape Breton Mi’kmaq community, which has already seen major growth in recent decades.

Minster of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Rebecca Alty, was in Membertou to announce the deal, which includes four additions to the reserve totaling more than 409 acres.

Some of the extra land is intended to increase commercial and economic opportunities but Membertou Chief, Terry Paul, said a lot of it will be used for modern housing.

“Well, on the other side of the highway is the largest one”, Paul said when asked by reporters where the additional land for housing is located. “That’s enough room to put something like 1,400 houses there, so it will be a major addition and a much-needed addition to our region because we’re all about land now.”

According to a government news release, just over 90 per cent of the land – 368.5 acres – will be used for residential purposes.

Another 20 acres has been given to a local business – Stan’s Paving – for commercial development.

Nearly thirteen acres has been earmarked for improved access to the community while the remainder – just over seven acres – is intended for more space for the existing Membertou Heritage Park.

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