OHSWEKEN — Six Nations Elected Council says they are working with other First Nations in Ontario to combat a Carbon charge on Six Nations residents natural gas bills.
The Carbon charge is part of the federal government’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and did not include an on-reserve pricing scheme that would provide tax exemptions for on-reserve residents. As a result the Carbon charge has appeared on residents hydro bills, natural gas, auto gas and any economic development in the green energy sector.
SNEC issued a statement on May 16, addressing the new Carbon pricing charge saying the charge is “essentially a tax on all fossil fuel products. This includes hydro, gas and natural gas products sold within our community.”
SNEC says they are working to maintain tax immunity on reserve. As part of that announcement, the council released a 12 page
summary analysis document addressing what the federal and provincial government is hoping to implement in the coming months, how it could affect the people of Six Nations, and if there are any opportunities in those initiatives.
SNEC’s statement went on to assert that the council is concerned for the progression of Bill C-91 Indigenous Languages Act and Bill C-92 Indigenous Families Act that, if passed, would impose further federal legislation over Indigenous families lives.
“The Six Nations Elected Council totally rejects the efforts of the federal government to legislate our lives, our children and our languages. This approach is unacceptable, disrespectful and ignores the principal’s reconciliation and more importantly, the Nation to Nation relationship,” says the statement. “It is oblivious that the underlying intent of the federal Indigenous agenda is to expedite plans and create a legislation path, all without our participation or consent. This does not bring honour to the Crown.”
SNEC says they will continue to pressure federal and provincial governments to oppose those initiatives.
