Proposal Stirs Memories of Pankiw
FSIN reacts to CTF's call for elimination of tax rebate
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says the Canadian Taxpayers Federation just doesn't get it. The C-T-F is calling on the government to make it so First Nations businesses pay tax on gas and tobacco. It says on-reserve urban businesses received nearly 70 million in tax rebates in 2008 and it gives them an unfair advantage over off-reserve retailers.
FSIN Chief Guy Lonechild felt such a move prevent's their evolution as a people.
"I think it's old attitudes that are hard to break and I'm sorry the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is falling backwards." said Lonechild.
He said the CTF isn't doing them any favours in a time when they're trying to integrate and drive change into the economy. He also wasn't pleased about the words "race-based tax rebate" used in a CTF press release.
"It's actually hurtful language. If somebody talks about race-based taxes it reminds me of Jim Pankiw."
Pankiw stirred controversy as a Conservative MP and a Saskatoon Mayoral candidate in 2003 when he suggested governments do away with 'race-based' policies. Lonechild added the CTF needs to acknowledge that First Nations were never meant to be taxed as part of Treaty rights.
Comments
One good example of an
One good example of an advantage that on reserve gas stations have is the fuel tax. Sask Fuel Tax is 15 cents/L and Indians are exempt from paying that tax. The on reserve store will not refund their Indian customers the full tax. For example the customer will receive 5 cents back and the reserve store will get back from the government the full 15 cents even though they only gave the Indian customer 5 cents off. This allows the store to sell gas cheaper to non Indian customers. If Indians don't believe me, pay attention the next time you go to an on reserve station. Insist that you get the 15 cents back, not less. I know this because I am an Indian that worked at one of these gas stations and noticed this. I also called the government to confirm.
Unfair
This is an extremely unfair advantage for First Nation businesses. Sure, I believe natives have treaty rights and understandings, but this is going a little too far. Do natives use public systems? What finances all levels of the public system? Was selling gas and cigarettes part of the understanding of the original treaties? We all have to think beyond just ourselves and understand how taxes benefit us all in one way or another, no matter how much we hate them! Or would some prefer to be living in teepees and hunting wildlife with a bow and arrow? Because without taxes you don't have roads, schools, hospitals, etc, etc, etc!!!
"Because without taxes you
"Because without taxes you don't have roads, schools, hospitals, etc, etc, etc!!!" We don't need the government to provide hospitals. As a society we have become to reliant on government hand outs. The private sector would provide health care, just like the US. We got to stop thinking more government is the solution. More government is the problem.
Yeah, that is it! It was all
Yeah, that is it! It was all that government monitoring the major insurance companies in the United States which caused the economic crash! Oh wait.... it was the lack of government oversight.
What does insurance have to
What does insurance have to do with US economic crash? It also has nothing to do with my comment. You are clueless. It was the mortgage crisis. This was caused by the government forcing banks to be equitable and provide mortgages to people that couldn't afford it. It was also the fault of the idiots that thought they could keep borrowing money and pay less than the interest accrued each month. The fact is, government involvement caused the crisis. I guess you probably think that going trillions of dollars in debt is going to get the US out of the crisis. It might seem good now, but their kids will be paying for ever. This will also increase business taxes, resulting in businesses leaving the US and in return reducing the jobs.
Lonechild needs to get with the times
If Lonechild thinks that paying taxes is not part of becoming "integrated into the economy", he had better go to school and learn how a society functions as a whole. The CTF called it correct, we do indeed have race based policies and no matter how you disguise it uing interpretations of archaic treaties, it does not serve to alleviate the unfairness of such color based privileges.
CTF OUT TO LUNCH
CTF is way off base here. Any urban reserve may mot pay property taxes, however, they have negotiated a service agreement with the city for services of water, sewer, infrastructure etc. These service agreements are paid by the reserve to the city. Further, there should be an exemption of fuel and cigarette taxes on reserves. If any government was to attempt to change that, I hope it would be challenged to the Supreme Court of Canada. Further, it would be political suicide for the government.
Shame
Are the people that run the CTF ignorant, intolerant, or both? Has anyone in the CTF leadership taken any initiative to learn about treaty? To learn about or invite elders in to speak to them about First Nations culture? The FSIN has just charted a new direction with a new leader, whose first words as the new chief included a call for a new attitude of cooperation and respect on the part of the FSIN....and what gets thrown in their face? The equivalent of an insult from the CTF. (Who, by the way, are an unelected group that claims to speak on behalf of all taxpayers) Is it not in all of our best interests to do everything we can to help build and support and encourage First Nations business development in this province? Instead, The CTF wants to increase their taxes, and insult them while they are at it. Shame on the CTF.
They certainly do not speak on behalf of this taxpayer!
I would say to Mr. Lonechild
I would say to Mr. Lonechild that the higher taxes I have to pay to compensate for preferential tax treatment accorded certain groups impedes my evolution as a person and is something that I find hurtful. If he is hurt by someone saying the rebate is race-based, then be hurt. It is what it is. What is old and outdated is preferential tax treatment of any kind.
That being said, if the CTF wants any credibility on tax issues, it is high time they put the unconscionably high taxes Sask residents have to pay to subsidize the culture of dependence and entitlement that is Sask agriculture on their radar.
Agreed, the fact that first
Agreed, the fact that first nations people want to get tax-breaks is what is keeping any sort of relationship from evolving. I'd have a new respect for first nations businesses if they stopped taking government handouts, and functioned like ever other business. Getting rid of race-based laws are exactly what needs to happen to evolve the relationship and perceptions of any minority group. Special treatment puts up walls. End of story.
Many people would find it
Many people would find it more disgusting to know many big ticket items are "delivered" to the reserve land so they don't pay tax on it. Appliances, BIG screen tv's, cars, etc. THAT disgusts me, and I sell them and have to do it!
The NDP were scared to do
The NDP were scared to do anything about this problem lets see if the Sask Party has the you know whats to stand up and do the right thing. It time to step up and be real taxpayers men and women be apart and pay your way. Its really seems that that the only job some folks have is whining. Be equal or join the NDP or start another Sask party. The whining party the platform could be no tax. Get the nomad Cons ( the ones without a party ) a few whining ndpers and you got a new party.
I guess paying taxes is now
I guess paying taxes is now considered racism.
If it's not race-based, then
If it's not race-based, then what is it???
If the CTF wants to have a
If the CTF wants to have a conversation about the taxation of first nation's businesses, that's fine. But terms like "race-based tax rebate" are an attempt to fuel emotional reactions. There is no "race-based" tax; everything is to do with treaty rights.
So how do they determine who
So how do they determine who is entitled to treaty rights? Race? Oh...yeah. They do it by race. The treaty rights are the middle man for "race-based" policies. Those are some pretty easy dots to connect.
Check your facts. Tax
Check your facts. Tax exemptions were not intended to be in Treaties, nor were they. Tax exemptions come from the Parliament in the Indian Act.
Up in Smoke
The last time I checked smoking causes cancer. If leaders are really concerned about their citizens they would not make it cheaper or easier to endulge in this dangerous habit. And by leaders I mean ALL.
I voted for Jim Pankiw. He
I voted for Jim Pankiw. He understands the prejedice of being non native. If we are to function in a society together, everyone needs to be treated fairly. Taxes included. I would have respect for any native business that paid their share of taxes. When handouts and breaks are given to just certain groups, how can others not feel angry? You have 20% of the population in Saskatchewan paying for 100% of the people because of the unfair tax system. If aboriginals want to be treated fairly, start by paying what non natives pay for taxes, then we'll all feel better.
As for items being delivered to reserves so no tax is paid on them........a person living in my area had a beautiful car they were leasing. I phoned the car company to find out if that car was coming back in, with the idea to purchase it for myself. They told me that car was located on a reserve. I told them it is just around the corner from me in the city. The person lives there. He said they have the address listed as a reserve so no tax would be paid. This is criminal if you ask me. I would be charged with a crime if I pulled something like this. This garbage needs to stop. Take but not giving into it. We all need to pay equally to feel good about our existance in society.
By law the transaction only
By law the transaction only has to be completed on a reserve. In other words, the vehicle has to change hands on the reserve. It doesn't even have to be the persons reserve. They don't even have to live on a reserve. They just need to be a treaty Indian. This transaction was most likely legal.
I agree that everyone should pay their fair share, but I think the bigger problem is that the car company provided you with personal information about the car purchase.
With all due respect to FSIN
Regardless of whether it was in a treaty or not. Regardless of whether it was INTENDED to be in a treaty or not, giving a tax concession based one's heritage is wrong. It's not a case of racism to suggest that all people be treated equally.
There has to be some common
There has to be some common ground that makes sense. If you can prove your a 100% and actual live on a reserve you should get every break. If you can not prove you are 100% then you would recieve less but you still have to live on the reserve. That way the metis would get also share in the breaks. If you live off the reserve and are not attending school/training then you should recieve zero. Remember dutch ...remember his comments?
Let me guess, it's their
Let me guess, it's their "inheriant right" to not have to pay taxes either? Sorry your feelings got hurt chief, but when one skin color gets a different tax treatment than another, that's race based tax.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have some of these chiefs sit on a hot seat for 10 minutes and hear the answers that come out of their mouths.