Written by James Murray
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:58
THUNDER BAY - Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy is demanding consultation and accommodation of the rights of First Nations, following Premier Dalton McGuinty’s reported refusal to hold public hearings on the proposed harmonized sales tax (HST). "The Ontario government has introduced HST legislation without consulting First Nations and now it’s being reported they’re refusing to hold public hearings to consider the impacts of the
combined tax," said Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy.
Grand Chief Beardy adds, "That the proposed legislation conflicts with First Nation understanding of the treaty relationship between First Nations and the Crown, whereby one sovereign nation cannot tax another. Both levels of government have an obligation to consult with First Nations if an Aboriginal and
treaty right could be compromised."
NAN, together with First Nation leadership across Ontario, rejected the proposed HST introduced in the Ontario legislature Monday. If passed, the 13 per cent HST will add to the cost of many goods and services not previously taxed which will have devastating impacts on NAN First Nation communities.
"The proposed HST will put an additional burden on First Nation economies, further impoverishing NAN communities, said Beardy. "This will be hardest felt in by the people in our remote First Nation communities where two litres of milk can be $15 and the basic necessities of life are already beyond the means of the average family".
In addition, last week the Ontario government announced new point-of-sale exemptions to the HST. "The Ontario government is creating new HST exemptions while at the same time taking ours away," said Beardy. "The provincial sales tax exemption for First Nations is a longstanding legislative exemption based on the special treaty and constitutional relationship between First Nation people and the Crown".
Last Updated on Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:58
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