April 29, 2020 – The Virtual World and Live Tours

On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, we were joined by Barry Porrelli, Lawyer and Owner at Porrelli Law, and Scott Simpson, Notary Public and Partner at Simpson Notaries. Barry and Scott provided an informative session on different legal regimes, understanding leases, the leasing process on reserve lands, how to complete the Contract of Purchase and Sale with particular attention to Clauses 5, 7, and 8, and more.

• Session slide deck (Porrelli Law)
• Session slide deck (Simpson Notaries)
• Non-cancellable Headlease – Section 8

Below are answers to some questions our guest speakers were unable to address during the September 13, 2023 session:

1. Why are there such a disproportionate number of First Nations Bands in BC (200) compared to 600 plus in the rest of Canada?
   • There are a lot more Indigenous people in Ontario than BC and I believe the reserves there can be much larger – but why there are more individual Bands in BC a historian would have to answer as I don’t really know.
2.  Does a First Nations lessee’s GST exempt status extend to all First Nations real estate or just their own? For example, if a Westbank is leasing in a Musqueam project.
   • Generally, we don’t give tax advice – but I believe the tax exemption comes from being a Status Indian, not a member of a particular Band.

Resources:

• Forms:
  • CPS Approval Required
  • CPS Approval Not Required
  • PDS First Nations Leasehold
  • PDS HOA Schedule