Finance committee  I can't answer that. I'm sorry. I'm from Ontario.

Finance committee  I have just some quick comments on those communities that you're familiar with. They're probably in the process where they're negotiating what they may feel is their self-determination, their self-government arrangements, which again talks about what they believe is their ability as a government, like any government, to tax.

Finance committee  On the first point that it's easier, no. It's far from easier for first nations communities. As I stated in my comments, we're already talking about individuals who are below the poverty line. We're talking about individuals who are, at this point in time, dependent on social assistance.

Finance committee  No. Again, it's not a fair alternative at all. A lot of our people haven't filed income tax returns because of their situation living on reserve for many years. So, no, they are not getting the GST rebate in a lot of cases. That system doesn't work for many of our first nations citizens.

Finance committee  If I may, no, we haven't had that kind of a dialogue. As political leaders we've tried to get a meeting with Minister Flaherty where we could at least have had some discussion or at least have heard from Minister Flaherty on the government's intention. And again, thank you for reading those two or three lines of the amendment we're seeking.

Finance committee  I believe it was an Ontario decision at the time, but what we've also registered here is that the federal government's imposition of GST is something we haven't been consulted on, and we still have issues with that. It is, at this point in time, the Ontario government that has recognized the point-of-sale exemption.

Finance committee  There are some exceptions to the rule in terms of the retailers that the first nations people in Nova Scotia go to on a regular basis. They still recognize the point-of-sale exemption. I'm not sure exactly how that's done, but it is something that is happening--maybe not consistently enough.

Finance committee  I'm not certain of the details.

Finance committee  They do have the right and obligation to consult and accommodate our interests. I think that's what we've been saying. Both levels of government have that obligation. As I stated, that's from the Haida and Mikisew cases clearly establishing that whenever our rights are going to be impacted, there is an obligation by government to sit down, consult, and, hopefully, accommodate our interests.

Finance committee  I will add to Grand Chief Phillips' comments. What we're proposing and what we've attached is the suggested amendment that would allow for us to have certainty about the kinds of amendments that we're seeking and that would enable that to take place. That would hopefully allow the province, through their agreement, to work with us, but without this amendment going forward, we're not going to be able to have that kind of discussion with all three parties present.

Finance committee  That's the problem we have. If there were some consideration on the amendment, it would give us more comfort that we could actually sit down with the province and deal with the issue in the best way possible for our citizens.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Honourable committee members, first of all, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to make this presentation. This subject is a matter of extreme importance to Ontario first nations and first nations people in general across this country. Therefore, I appreciate the opportunity to be heard.