Natives to win HST concessions from Ottawa
Posted on June 16, 2010 in Equality Debates
Source: Globe & Mail — Authors: Adam Radwanski, Karen Howlett
The federal government is set to give aboriginals a major concession on Ontario’s new harmonized sales tax, amid threats that protesters will “shut down the country” when it plays host to world leaders at the coming G8 and G20 summits.
Until this month, Ottawa had ignored natives’ pleas for a provincewide point-of-sale exemption from the HST after it takes effect on July 1. But with native leaders set to plan protests that could include outright blockades, federal and provincial officials engaged in a frantic round of negotiations.
Sources say that an 11th-hour deal to give aboriginals the exemption is now imminent, and that it was the spectre of major disruptions that forced Stephen Harper’s government to come to the table.
The talks began on June 4, and picked up steam after a meeting a week later at which aboriginal representatives put government officials on notice that they would back up their unhappiness with the end of the exemption by taking action.
Alvin Fiddler, senior policy adviser at the Independent First Nations Alliance – a tribal council representing five communities – said the main item at a meeting of native leaders next Tuesday in Fort Frances, Ont., would be how to maximize exposure to natives’ complaints. “It’s direct action that usually gets the most attention,” he said.
Stan Beardy, Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, said in an interview that representatives are very close to reaching an accord. But “if the thing isn’t resolved, we have to tell our people to do whatever we need to do in order to protect our rights,” he said. “We have to shut down the country if we have to.”
For 30 years, natives in Ontario have not had to pay provincial sales tax when making purchases anywhere in the province. By contrast, they receive exemptions from the federal goods and services tax for most goods bought off-reserve only after filing their income tax returns.
Until this week, it appeared that the federal rules would apply to the HST. But under the new deal, it’s expected that the 8-per-cent provincial portion of the tax will again be exempted at point of sale – though it’s unclear whether that will be possible in the early weeks that the new tax is collected, given that the change will come just two weeks before it takes effect.
The aboriginal campaign to reinstate the exemption gained traction at the provincial legislature before the federal shift. Premier Dalton McGuinty has repeatedly called for its inclusion, and his government entered a memorandum of understanding with native leaders to that effect. Last month, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan wrote to his federal counterpart, Jim Flaherty, calling it a matter “of great importance to both of our governments and Ontario First Nations.”
Both provincial opposition parties sided with the government, passing a unanimous motion that might have put additional pressure on Mr. Harper’s Conservatives.
< http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/natives-to-win-hst-concessions-from-ottawa/article1605796/ >
Tags: Indigenous, tax
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at 10:33 pm and is filed under Equality Debates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
329 Responses to “Natives to win HST concessions from Ottawa”
« Older Comments | Newer Comments »
Recent Comments
Good post. I study something more difficult on different blogs everyday. It’s going to always be stimulating to learn content material from other writers and observe a little bit one thing from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content material on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link in your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
I like the helpful information you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I’ll learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Great job.
Have you given any kind of thought at all with converting your current web-site into French? I know a couple of of translaters here that will would certainly help you do it for no cost if you want to get in touch with me personally.
I am very happy to look your post. Thanks a lot and i am taking a look ahead to touch you.
Keep it up!. I usually don’t post in Blogs but your blog forced me to, amazing work.. beautiful A rise in An increase in An increase in.
Hey, I simply hopped over to your website by way of StumbleUpon. No longer one thing I’d normally learn, but I preferred your thoughts none the less. Thanks for making one thing worth reading.
I just couldn’t leave your web site prior to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard info an individual supply to your guests? Is going to be again continuously in order to inspect new posts
Nice post.Very useful info specifically the last part 🙂 Thank you and good luck.
thank, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article. I really appreciate your wonderful knowledge and the time you put into educating the rest of us.
Nevertheless, it’s all carried out with tongues rooted solidly in cheeks, and everybody has got nothing but absolutely love for their friendly neighborhood scapegoat. In reality, he is not merely a pushover. He is simply that extraordinary breed of person solid enough to take all that good natured ribbing for what it really is.
I am very happy to look your post. Thanks a lot and i am taking a look ahead to touch you.
Magnificent beat ! Can I be your apprentice? Just kidding!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!
I wrote down your blog in my bookmark. I hope that it somehow did not fall and continues to be a great place for reading texts.
Substantially, the post is really the best on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will eagerly watch forward to your future updates.Just saying thanx will not just be enough, for the wonderful lucidity in your writing.
However, it is virtually all done with tongues rooted solidly in cheeks, and everyone has absolutely nothing but absolutely love for his or her friendly neighborhood scapegoat. The truth is, he is not just a pushover. He is basically that special variety of person strong enough to take all of that good natured ribbing for exactly what it is.
Good points – – it will make a difference with my parents.
Amazing! Your site has quite a few comment posts. How did you get all of these bloggers to look at your site I’m envious! I’m still studying all about posting articles on the net. I’m going to view pages on your website to get a better understanding how to attract more people. Thank you!
I dont think Ive caught all the angles of this subject the way youve pointed them out. Youre a true star, a rock star man. Youve got so much to say and know so much about the subject that I think you should just teach a class about it