The federal government is spending approximately $44 million to build, from scratch, a completely new reserve in northern Manitoba for 278 Marcel Colomb band members. Incredibly, this new reserve is being built 30km away from the Town of Lynn Lake which is 80% vacant due to defunct mining operations.

In 1972, as a result of political differences, a group of Mathias Colomb band members voted to split from this band and create their own band and council. Hence, the formation of the Marcel Colomb band. To provide a home for the new band, the federal government decided to build the Black Sturgeon Falls Reserve. In 1995, the un-built reserve was officially recognized by the Minister of Indian Affairs as the 62nd reserve in Manitoba.

While waiting for the new reserve to be built, the bulk of the Marcel Colomb members live in Lynn Lake. The band has opened a band office in town and the federal and provincial governments have established an Aboriginal Friendship Centre.

In 1999 the leaders of Marcel Colomb conducted a referendum to determine if the membership wanted to remain in Lynn Lake. Despite the availability of homes, schools, roads, sewage, power, and telephones, the majority of the membership voted to create their own community.

The land chosen to become the home of Black Sturgeon Falls Reserve was undeveloped vacant land situated 30km from Lynn Lake. To build basic infrastructure such as roads, sewage, hydro, telephone, schools, and houses, Ottawa committed an initial $18 million. Conservative estimates suggest the project will cost at least $44 million before completion.

Most taxpayers would probably agree that a new reserve should be created if the members of the Marcel Colomb band where living in dilapidated housing situated on contaminated soil. Not so. The band members live in Lynn Lake.

In addition to having a 5,000 foot paved runway, schools and medical facilities, Lynn Lake boasts great fishing, a site to watch NASA launch weather balloons, big game hunting and pristine camping. Lynn Lake is considered by some to be an ideal place to raise a family.

Lynn Lake hasn't been without its share of hardship. As a result of a number of gold mine closures, the town dwindled from a high of 3,500 residents to 700. To be expected housing prices in the small community have plummeted. A 1,000-square-foot home sells for about $5,000.

Rather than building a new reserve, the federal government could buy 278 houses for the Marcel Colomb members at a mere $1.4 million. This would save taxpayers approximately $42.6 million.

But why should the federal government even do that, it was after all the Marcel Colomb members who decided, of their own free will, to split from their original band. The Canadian Constitution specifies federal responsibility for "Indians and lands reserved for Indians". Even when a band decides to divide, as is the case here, the federal government and taxpayers, are still responsible for status Indians.

Nevertheless, the federal government could have worked with the Town of Lynn Lake and the Marcel Colomb band to establish a reserve in Lynn Lake, or at the very least closer to the town to reduce the expense to taxpayers.