A last minute deal may have been reached between First Nation leaders and the federal and provincial governments on HST.
NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy said based on what he’s heard, talks between the two levels of government and Ontario First Nations have lead to a deal allowing natives to maintain a Point of Sale exemption on HST, something First Nation leaders have been fighting to get for months. Beardy said the federal government has changed its position which, until Tuesday, was ignoring First Nations requests for the exemption. Beardy said he believes with the G20 coming to Canada and threats from First Nation leaders that they would be forced to take direct action to protest the tax got Ottawa listening.
"Until yesterday the federal government was not too receptive and maintained their position that everyone across the board needs to pay HST and late yesterday they began to change their attitude and I think it has to do mainly with the G20," Beardy said. "We’ve made it very clear that if we’re forced to…we’ll be forced to go for direct action."
Beardy was told that the understanding was reached Wednesday and that an announcement on the exemption could be made Friday.
"I am very hopeful. I am told that we have reached an understanding and we’re trying to work out the wording and I am very hopeful that an announcement can be made that will be beneficial to all parties," said Beardy.
Beardy said the Point of Sale exemption in Ontario has been around for 30 years and that it is a treaty right.
