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Canada
On behalf of the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, I HEREBY APPROVE, pursuant to section 83 of the Indian Act, the following by-law made by the Westbank, in the Province of British Columbia, at a meeting held on March 31, 2025.
Westbank Rates By-law No. 25-TX-03
Dated at Ottawa, Ontario, this 8th day of May
2025.
Valerie Gideon Deputy Minister, Crown-Indigenous Relations
Canada
stga7tkw4niwt sgilxw (WESTBANK) RATES BYLAW No. 25-TX-03
WHEREAS: A. stqa?tkwtniwt sqilxw (Westbank) has jurisdiction and authority over Westbank Lands; B. Pursuant to paragraph 83(1)(a) of the Indian Act, the Council of a First Nation may make bylaws respecting taxation for local purposes of reserve lands, interests in reserve lands and rights to occupy, possess or use reserve lands;
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G.
Paragraph 83(1 )(a) of the Indian Act continues to apply to stqa?tkwfniwt sqilxw (Westbank), in accordance with section 275 of the i? sckwlf skc'xipla?tet i? sc'xenwixwtet (Westbank First Nation Self-Government Agreement);
The sexw1<wfnma?m (Council) of stqa?tkwtniwt sqilxw (Westbank) has enacted the Westbank Property Taxation Bylaw 23-TX-01 (the "Taxation Bylaw") pursuant to section 83 of the Indian Act respecting property taxation for local purposes on reserve;
In accordance with section 14.2 of the Taxation Bylaw, on or before May 14 in each Taxation year, yf sexwkwfnma?m (Council) shall adopt a bylaw or law setting the rate of tax to be applied to each Property Class and each Property Class within each Taxation District;
The yf saxw!<Winma?m (Council) of stqa?tkwfniwt sqilxw (Westbank) now desires to request the Minister to approve this Westbank Rates Bylaw No. 25-TX-03, a local revenue law within the meaning of the stqa?tkW4niwt i? Stkwnkwinpla?s (Constitution) and the i? sckw14 skdxipla?tet i? sdxenwixwtet (Westbank First Nation Self-Government Agreement), in accordance with the Indian Act; and
The yi saxwkwf nma?m (Council) of stqa?tkwtniwt sqilxw (Westbank) has given notice of this Bylaw in accordance with the stqa?tkwtniwt i? Stkwnkwinpla?s (Constitution) and the WFN Advisory Council Law No. 2017, and has considered any representations received by the saxw1<winma?m (Council),
NOW THEREFORE the yi saxwl{wf nma?rh (Council) of stqa?tkwfniwt sqilxw (Westbank) hereby enacts the following Bylaw for the purpose of establishing annual rates of taxation:
1. 1.1 2. 2.1
TITLE This Bylaw may be cited as the "Westbank Rates Bylaw No. 25-TX-03". DEFINITIONS ANO INTERPRETATION In this Bylaw, unless the context requires otherwise: "Assessment Bylaw" means the Westbank Property Assessment Bylaw No. 23-TX-02; "Taxiltion Bylaw" means the Westbank Property Taxation Bylaw No. 23-TX-01;
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"stqa?tkwiniwt sqilxw (Westbank)" means Westbank First Nation, being a self governing Indigenous Government as defined in the stqa?tkw+niwt i? Stkwnkwinpla?s (Constitution); and
"Westbank Lands" means (a) the following Westbank Indian Reserves: (i) Mission Creek (senxwaqwa?sten) Indian Reserve No. 8 in British Columbia,
(b)
(ii) (iii) (iv)
(v)
Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve No. 9 in British Columbia, Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve No. 10 in British Columbia, Medicine Hill (ak+ mrimstn) Indian Reserve No. 11 in British Columbia, and
Medicine Creek (nmrmsitkw) Indian Reserve No. 12 in British Columbia, and
lands set apart by Canada in the future as lands reserved for the use and benefit of stqa?tkw+niwt sqilxw (Westbank), within the meaning of subsection 91 (24) of the Constitution Act, 1867.
Unless otherwise provided in this Bylaw, words, expressions, and rules of construction used in this Bylaw have the same meaning as in the stqa?tkw+niwt i? Stkwnkwinpla?s (Constitution), the Taxation Bylaw and the Assessment Bylaw.
The Schedule to this Bylaw forms part of and is an integral part of this Bylaw. In this Bylaw: (a) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular; and
(b)
(c)
where a word or expression is defined, other parts of speech, and grammatical forms of the same word or expression have corresponding meanings; and
where both English and syilx terms are used in this Bylaw, both versions are equally authoritative and may be used interchangeably.
If any section of this Bylaw is for any reason held invalid by a decision of a Court, the invalid section or subsection shall be severed from and will not affect the remaining provisions of this Bylaw.
The headings given to articles and sections in this Bylaw are for convenience of reference only, do not form part of this Bylaw and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Bylaw.
Unless otherwise noted, a reference to an enactment is a reference to the enactment as it exists from time to time and includes any regulations made under the enactment, and any law or bylaw referred to herein is a reference to a stqa?tkwtniwt sqilxw (Westbank)
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law or bylaw, as amended, revised, consolidated or replaced from time to time, and includes any regulations made under that law or bylaw.
Where a provision in this Bylaw or a Schedule to this Bylaw is expressed in the present tense, future tense or in the past tense, the provision applies to the circumstances as they may from time to time arise without reference to the present tense, future tense or the past tense.
This Bylaw shall be construed as being remedial, and shall be given such fair, large and liberal construction and interpretation as best ensures the attainment of its objects.
TAX RATES Taxes levied pursuant to the Taxation Law for the Taxation Year 2025 shall be determined by imposing the rates set out in Schedule "A" upon the Assessed Value of all Taxable Property in each Property Class.
Notwithstanding section 3.1, where the amount of the tax levied on Taxable Property in a Taxation Year is less than $500 dollars ($500.00), the Taxable Property shall be taxed at $500 dollars ($500.00) for the Taxation Year.
COMING INTO FORCE -This Bylaw comes into force and effect on the day after it is approved by the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations or the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, as applicable.
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED AND AGREED: That this Bylaw, entitled the Westbank Rates Bylaw No. 25-TX-03, being read for the first, and third and final time by the yf sexw1<wf nma?rh (Council) of stqa?tkwfniwt sqilxw (Westbank) held at duly convened meetings is:
1st Reading: Read a first time by the yi sexw1<wfnma?rh (Council) at a duly convened meeting held on the 3rd day of March 2025.
2nd Reading: Exempt from second reading pursuant to section 60.9 of the stqa?tkwfniwt i? Stkwnkwinpla?s (Constitution).
3rd Reading: Read a third time and enacted by the yi sexw1<wf nma?rh (Council) at a duly convened meeting held on the 31st day of March 2025.
Chief Robert Louie
Councillor Jordan Coble
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"Councillor Angie Derrickson
Councillor Sara Tronson
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SCHEDULE "A" The sexwJ<winma?m (Council) of stqa?tkwfniwt sqilxw (Westbank) hereby adopts the following taxation rates for the 2025 taxation year for the following Property Classes.
Name of Taxation District
Westbank First Nation
Reserves Comprising Taxation District
The following reserves within Westbank Lands:
• Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve No. 9 • Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve No. 10
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Medicine Creek (nmrmsitkw) Indian Reserve No. 12
Property Classes
Property Classes as prescribed under s. 7.6 and Schedule I of the Westbank Property Assessment Bylaw No. 23-TX- 02.
Class 1 - Residential Class 2 - Utilities Class 5 - Light Industry Class 6 - Business and Other Class 8 - Rec / Non-Profit
Tax Rates - 2025
Rate of Tax applied against each $1,000.00 of the assessed value of the land and improvements as determined in accordance with Part 5 of the Westbank Property Taxation Bylaw No. 23-TX-01.
4.4879 41.5500 16.0050 11.7555 5.6335
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