MCK: Gas Tax advertising causing confusion

06/06/2012

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that advertisements in local media entitled “Program for administering the fuel tax exemptions for Indians” have been issued by Revenu Québec and are NOT endorsed or supported by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke.

While the MCK supports the concept of point-of-sale tax exemption on gasoline purchased on reserve lands, there are issues in Kahnawà:ke that remain unresolved and, as such, options are being explored that could address communal needs.

The new system is being implemented as a result of a class-action lawsuit filed by Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) Regional Chief Ghislain Picard in 2004 that challenged the legality of the current ‘rebate’ process.

“The advertisements are causing some confusion within community,” said Chief Lloyd Phillips, who is the MCK’s representative at the AFNQL. “We are not yet ready to endorse the process. The announcements are premature, at least for Kahnawà:ke.”