Chief Gina Deer to speak on tobacco issue before Standing Committee in Ottawa

12/04/2013

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that Chief Gina Deer will be making a presentation on the issue of tobacco before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights tomorrow (Thursday) at the House of Commons in Ottawa.

The presentation will be in response to Canada’s C-10 legislation, referred to as the ‘Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act,’ which is a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code “to create a new offense in trafficking in contraband tobacco and to provide for minimum penalties of imprisonment for repeat offenders.”

“The Canadian government’s plan to combat the so-called ‘contraband tobacco’ industry is to enact laws that will provide automatic jail time for anyone caught with tobacco,” said Chief Deer, who holds the Tobacco Portfolio along with four other MCK chiefs.  “Once again Canada’s solution is to institutionalize First Nations people, as they did with the residential schools. How long will it take this time for the Canadian government to admit that this law is not the answer and that institutionalizing our people for exercising our rights is a huge mistake?”

Chief Deer is scheduled to speak at 9:45am. The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne is also scheduled to appear before the Standing Committee during the hearings.