FSIN Discussing Legal Options After Budget Release
Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 14:58
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says the province’s announcement in yesterday’s budget to reduce the number of cigarette cartons a Status Indian can buy tax-free is reminiscent of the Indian Agent days.
Vice-Chief Morley Watson says if it was really about health, the government would have helped First Nations with a number of pressing health issues such as high rates of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, houses with mould, or suicides.
Some chiefs are meeting today in Saskatoon to discuss political options.
They are also meeting with lawyers to see if there are any legal options to pursue.
Watson says he was hoping to see something in the budget to help young First Nations get training to help fill a workforce gap.
He says no investment there makes him think the government either thinks First Nations people can’t do the job or aren’t worth the investment, both of which he calls “very hurtful”.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Liberal Leader Ryan Bater says Aboriginal jobs and treaty rights are being sacrificed in the provincial budget.
Bater says the cut in tax-free tobacco sales on reserves is just a blatant tax grab — and he says the province doesn’t have the jurisdiction to do that under the treaties.
He also notes the Aboriginal Employment Development Program has been eliminated, and the First Nations and Metis Business Development Program is being allowed to expire.
Bater says those moves will cut the number of jobs that can be created in the Aboriginal community.