Ontario natives rally against HST, demand meeting with Flaherty

OTTAWA - Aboriginals from Ontario rallied on Parliament Hill Wednesday against the Harmonized Sales Tax, saying it violates their treaty and constitutional rights.

Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Parliament Buildings before marching to the federal Finance Department offices a few blocks away.

Regional Chief Angus Toulouse says aboriginals and their communities are among the most marginalized and impoverished in Canada and the HST will place an additional undue hardship on them.

He says Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has refused to meet First Nations leaders on the issue.

And he accuses Flaherty of showing a lack of respect and accountability by imposing the HST on First Nations "without so much as an economic-impact analysis."

Most provinces have agreed to blend or have already blended their retail sales taxes with the federal GST.

Ontario's agreement takes effect July 1.

Toulouse says the Ontario government has at least demonstrated a willingness to sit down with aboriginal leaders to find a "mutually acceptable and fair" resolution to the issue.

"The fact of the matter is that First Nations in Ontario have constitutional rights in Canada and we have treaties with the Crown governments that affirm our nation-to-nation relationship," he says.

"This means that the Canadian and Ontario governments have an obligation to consult with First Nations if a proposed action might infringe on these established constitutional rights. Clearly both levels of government failed to meet this obligation."

First Nations in Ontario will continue to resist the blended tax until a "fair and just resolution" is reached, he says.

"This fight is about the larger issue of First Nation rights and goes far beyond the HST issue. The HST is of concern to all First Nations because of potential impacts on treaty and aboriginal rights."