FSIN Up In Arms Over Threat To Tax-Free Tobacco

FSIN Up In Arms Over Threat To Tax-Free Tobacco

Friday, March 19, 2010 at 15:21

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is calling on the province to back off on a proposed plan to reduce the number of cartons of tobacco status Indians can buy on reserves.

In a press release issued this morning, the FSIN says they only learned of Premier Brad Wall’s plan minutes before he delivered a state of the province address in Saskatoon on Wednesday.

The federation contends there was no meaningful consultation regarding this matter.

Vice-Chief Morley Watson says the proposal is also a blanket attack on treaty rights and the ability of bands to generate their own economies.

Watson says the proposed decrease in the tobacco exemption would cut millions of dollars in revenue for approximately 70 on-reserve businesses in the province.

He adds Saskatchewan First Nations chiefs will hold a meeting on the issue.