The Daily News Tuesday, January 20, 2001

Natives eye Sunday shopping Millbrook Mi'kmaq band negotiating with big chains to locate on reserve land By Cathy Nicoll & Richard Dooley

The Millbrook Mi'kmaq band -- which controls land near Trurp and in Cole Harbour -- says it will allow retailers who lease land from the band to open on Sundays.

The declaration has added fuel to the fiery debate over Sunday shopping.

Although the band doesn't have any stores yet, it is negotiating with some big chains, including Wal-Mart, to locate at the Power Centre -- 12 hectares of land under development near Truro -- Millbrook Chief Lawrence Paul said yesterday.

Paul said that if a retailer approached the band for permission to be open on Sunday, it would likely be granted, contrary to provincial legislation.

"In reality, there is nothing the province could do about it," Paul said, "It's federal territory."

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