MP clarifies issues surrounding First Nations' anti-HST campaign
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Posted 4 months ago
Re: "Ottawa must rethink HST and First Nations," point of view, Teviah Moro, Friday, April 23
With greatest of respect, I suggest you look more closely at the issue of harmonized sales tax (HST) and how it applies to First Nations before drawing casual conclusions.
The government of Ontario asked to harmonize their PST with the GST last year. The federal government is just as obliged to follow the law today, as the government of the day was for Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia in 1997 when they implemented HST. That obligation comes from the federal government respecting each province's ability to tax within their own area of responsibility.
As with every other province and territory, Ontario First Nations people do not pay GST or PST if they live on reserve. But, First Nations who live "off reserve" pay taxes, the same as any other Canadian.
The point of contention is this. The government of Ontario has accepted the practice of First Nations people getting a PST exemption at the cash register simply by showing a status card (identification that the purchaser is First Nation) even if they live "off reserve."
This practice is unique to Ontario and P.E.I. In every other province, First Nations are exempted from sales taxes only if the articles are purchased for consumption "on reserve."
For example, if you have a status card and you purchase a new fridge and have it delivered to your residence which is on reserve, that purchase would be "tax-exempt." That exemption will continue when the HST takes effect in July.
What will not be the practice of "point-of-sale" exemptions for off-reserve First Nations people. HST will follow the same rule as GST. Under HST, tax exemptions will be the same for Ontario as for the nearly 500 other First Nations communities across Canada.
Your remaining criticisms of Canada's relations with First Nations are not completely without merit. There is still much to do.
But, unlike previous governments who paid only lip service, our government has taken practical and significant actions to improve the lives of First Nations people. New housing, safe drinking water, educational standards, expediting the specific claims process, and recognizing the human rights for First Nations people are but a few of the last few years' steps in the right direction.
We made an historic apology for the residential school abuses and put a reconciliation process in place to help heal the tragic outcomes of that dark chapter in our nation's history. We're committed to further progress; on endorsing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, and recognizing the property rights of women and families in the event of separation or divorce.
It is true that the government of Canada and the proud First Nations of this land have many bridges to cross before we will be full partners in the success of our country.
The resolution of these issues will be advanced far more quickly when the debate around them is informed.
Bruce Stanton,MP Simcoe North
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