MCK updates on gas tax situation
06/22/2011
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform Kahnawa’kehró:non regarding developments on Québec’s plan to implement a system of point-of-sale tax exemption for gasoline purchased by Native people on reserve.
Chief Lloyd Phillips attended a meeting last week between the Assembly of First Nations of Québec & Labrador (AFNQL) and Revenu Québec.
“While support is definitely there for ‘at the pump’ tax exemption, the process the province is proposing doesn’t meet Kahnawà:ke’s or anyone else’s needs. It needs to be reformed and simplified,” said Chief Phillips. “The chiefs in attendance were unanimous in voicing their concerns with Québec’s plan
According to Chief Phillips, the AFNQL is advocating a review of the entire implementation process and has scheduled a meeting with Québec’s Revenue Minister Raymond Bachand to discuss the issue face-to-face.
This situation came about as a result of a class-action lawsuit filed by AFNQL Regional Chief Ghislain Picard in 2004 that challenged the legality of the current ‘rebate’ process for gas tax. The lawsuit refers to the ‘Specific tax’ that is included on the cost of gasoline delivered to the retailer. The date to implement the new system had been previously announced as 1 Ohiari’kó:wa/July.
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