Muskoday Chief Challenges New Tobacco Quotas

Thursday, October 07, 2010 at 13:57

 

 

The stage is being set for a court challenge against the provincial government over a new tobacco law.

 

The chief of the Muskoday First Nation, Austin Bear, bought four cartons of cigarettes from the local store on the reserve.

 

Under the terms of a new law in the province, the store collected Provincial Sales Tax for the purchase.

 

When an application for a rebate for the cartons is denied, the chief will launch legal action.

 

The case is designed to challenge changes to the allowable quotas of non-taxable tobacco products that are sold to First Nations citizens.

 

Other chiefs are on hand for today’s demonstration in a show of support.

 

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is assisting in the case.