Regina: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is today presenting the Saskatchewan Finance Minister with a petition of 29,000 names demanding that Saskatchewan treaty Indians pay PST on off-reserve purchases.

"Fair tax policy must be based in economics, not genetics," says CTF Saskatchewan Director Richard Truscott.

"Saskatchewan people want tax relief and tax reform, and both must be based in tax fairness. Racially-based tax exemptions are not practical or fair, and have no place in 21st century Saskatchewan," he adds.

Every other province charges Native people PST for off-reserve purchases (except for PST-free Alberta), and these taxation policies have been upheld by the courts. The Vicq Committee proposed an end to the Native PST exemption last year.

"These petitioners are in good company. The petition reflects the views of our highest court, the laws of every other province, the recommendation of the Income Tax Review Committee, and the view of the vast majority of Saskatchewan people, that everyone should pay the same taxes off reserve," says Truscott.

"Unfair exemptions for some means unfair burdens for others," says Truscott. He notes that if Saskatchewan's native population continues to increase relative to the rest of the population, as is predicted, the broad-based PST exemption for treaty Indians will ultimately mean higher taxes for everyone, even fewer job opportunities, and the starvation of social funding on which many poorer natives depend.

"A prosperous Saskatchewan needs fair and reasonable taxes and the contribution of all its citizens to succeed. That's in everybody's interest," concludes Truscott.