Tax protesters claim victory

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Calling it the "beginning of the Sweetgrass Revolution", taxation protesters ended their 29-day occupation of the Revenue Canada offices in Toronto on Jan. 13.

The 19 protesters who had remained on the fifth floor of the building claims a victory as they emerged, even though Revenue Minister David Anderson insisted the government will not rescind income tax changes governing Natives who work off-reserve.

"We felt we accomplished our goal to bring people together to fight," said spokesperson Roger Obonsawin.

The move was accompanied by simultaneous demonstrations and rallies across Canada. In Toronto, 1, 500 protesters marched with the occupiers as they left the Revenue Canada building and moved through the financial district toward Toronto city hall.

The demonstrations and rallies were in response to Revenue Canada taxation guidelines that came into effect Jan. 1 , 1995.

The new guidelines place restrictions on tax exemption for Native people by narrowing the focus to individuals and employers on reserve. Leasing companies, and employees of off-reserve organizations (i.e. friendship centres, Native service agencies and businesses) currently not paying income tax will be the first hit by the new guidelines.

Employees of First Nations political, social, cultural, educational and economic organizations that serve on-reserve clientele on a non-commercial basis, for instance the Assembly of First Nations, will remain exempt, even though these offices may be located in urban centres.

These complication in the guidelines have led to some allegations of a "deal" being made on the part of the Assembly of First nations. (Other example of urban-based organizations that remain exempt would include tribal economic development and child welfare agencies). But this has been interpreted by many as another "divide and conquer" mechanism on the part of the government.

AFN National Chief Ovide Mercredi met with Revenue Canada Minister David Anderson on Jan. 19.

"The ideology on which this policy is based supposes that we cease being First nations peoples when we leave our reserves," Mercredi said to Anderson. "It sets up a whole new set of rules which are full of technical nonsense provide no clarity or certainty about who is or is not toe be taxed, and moreover, leaves decisions about our tax status in the hands of officials in your department who will making personal opinions about our rights."

The media emphasis on /off-reserve complications and leasing companies was addressed by AFN Ontario Region Chief Gord Peters at the Jan. 13 Toronto rally.

"We say to all media that we have a heart as a people, and when something happens to one of our people, it happens to all of us," Peters said.

Peters focused on the imminent dangers of "a direct breach of fiduciary responsibility", and stated that the Ontario First Nations position is full tax immunity for their citizens.

"It they get away trying to breach the fiduciary duty here, they can do it anywhere," he warned.

Overburdened Canadian taxpayers have generally not been sympathetic to Indian exemption. Many off-reserve First Nations citizens pay taxes, and have not sought means by which to become exempt.

"You have to pay taxes to someone..." stated a Native man who was not in support of the Toronto rally.

Outside pressures and factors such as "stereotypical ....all Indians are lazy...people don't want to fit that and so they work and pay taxes," Peters said about the apathy and lack of support for tax exemption in certain sectors of the Native community.

"People have generally said, first and foremost, that taxation is a right we possess, and something we'll decide on ourselves," Peters said.

Mercredi has asked for a meeting with Anderson, Finance Minister Paul Martin and Ron Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, to start a discussion table on taxation and other issues related to self-government.

Anderson agreed to set up the meeting, which is t occur sometime in mid-February.