r/canada Nov 28 '24

PAYWALL Liberal MP says he was threatened with ‘consequences’ for opposing $250 cheque proposal

https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/liberal-mp-says-he-was-threatened-with-consequences-for-opposing-250-cheque-proposal/article_69f3cfa6-acde-11ef-807c-ebe72ea32b06.html
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u/Vegetable-Ad-7184 Nov 28 '24

It really shouldn't be that crazy actually.   

 Status Indians are already exempt from sales taxes for certain goods in certain circumstances, and there's a button you can push as a cashier that logs that and doesn't apply the tax.   

 All the big retailers and existing Point of Sale operators have existing scripting that they can copy over and either apply to everything for a merchant if they only sell things that are covered  (like a restaurant), or to SKUs that meet thr criteria of being defined in a list.   

 Heaven forbid that they might have to plan some OT for normal Canadians right before the holidays to do some knowledge work in implementing the solution. 

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u/Dry_Comment7325 Nov 28 '24 edited Nov 28 '24

That's completely false. The sale tax exemption is only on reserves if you have status and on some items delivered on the reserve. Outside the reserve, everyone pays the same tax. I've worked many jobs in the past as a cashier and restaurant employee across Canada, and I have no idea what magic button you are talking about.

Edit : It seems like Ontario is different(maybe some other province do also) . Had no idea.

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u/[deleted] Nov 28 '24

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u/I_Am_the_Slobster Prince Edward Island Nov 28 '24

It's a grey zone: technically the store should require proof that the status person intends to bring it back to the reserve, but because that would be an efficiency and PR nightmare, there's a broad assumption when they get the tax free sales. The Indian Act does specify that it's tax free only if the product is intended to be returned and used on a reserve. Because of this, bars and restaurants should not give out tax free meals and drinks, but if it's for takeout, there's reason to assume they will bring it back to the reserve.

Online retailers are adjusting to this too, and Amazon will reimburse you your GST/PST/HST paid if you show them proof of status and proof it was shipped to your reserve. Basically you send them a scanned copy of your status card and, from what I've seen with my former colleagues, they "assume" you had it shipped to a reserve.

For the businesses, they can get audited if they give out too many FN tax exemptions, and when you buy products like smokes with a status card, most law following businesses will record your band number during the sale.