"Six Nations Buys Land in Haldimand"

HAGERSVILLE - For the third time in little more than a year, Six Nations has bought land off the reserve, sapping tax dollars from area municipalities.

On Monday, the deal closed for Six Nations band council to purchase a 135-acre property along Highway 6 and Fifth Line in the Town of Haldimand.

For Haldimand, it means lost tax revenue. Land that is part of a reserve, or held in trust for a native band, is exempt from property taxes.

It's Six Nations' third purchase since last November.

In April, band council bought the 175-acre Dyjach farm in Onondaga and has applied to add it to the reserve.

In November 1993, band council bought a 70-acre property on Painter Road.

The newly purchased property already has been leased to a Six Nations farmer.

"It's being plowed even as we speak," Phil Monture, director of the Six Nations Land Research department said Wednesday.

The future of the house on the property has not been decided, he said.