First Nations leader puts pressure on province over HST

The leader of the Anishnabek First Nation is calling on Aboriginal citizens to crank up the pressure on the federal government regarding the controversial HST.

Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee, who was in Nipigon for an HST protest on Monday, says First Nations need to make federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty know how they feel about the tax, which he calls illegal.

Flaherty's senior staff members are meeting on Monday with the Union of Ontario Indians regarding their demands for a point-of-sale exemption for First Nations people.

The Anishnabek Nation, which is based in North Bay, says several First Nations communities have members planning to set up toll booths on the TransCanada Highway and block rail traffic this summer in an effort to get the message across.

Madahbee is also threatening to set up protests during the G8 Summit of world leaders in Huntsville later this month if Flaherty doesn't agree to their demands.