Audio from a press conference at Queen's Park

Uploaded by:

Candace Mooers

Length: 0:23:25
Uploaded: 13 May, 2010

Recording Date: 22 Apr, 2010
Recording Location: Queen's Park, Toronto
Logsheet: none
Language: English
Topical for: 2 Months
Status: Complete, Ready to Air
Copyright:
Aboriginal HST Protest by CHRY News Now is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License.

Program Title: Anishnabe Nation Protests Imposition of Federal HST
Description: On Thursday, 22 May 2010, approximately 400 people from First Nations on Turtle Islands gathered at Queen's Park to protest the Canadian government's imposition of the new HST.

Here is audio recorded at the press conference that took place inside Queen's Park the morning of the protest. (Only one other media outlet -- APTN? -- was there to cover the story.)

The Harmonized Sales Tax is slated to come into effect 1 July 2010.

Host(s): CHRY 105.5 FM
Featured Speakers/Guests: 1. Matt Stevens 2. Patrick Madahbee, Grand Council Chief of the Union of Ontario Indians 3. Maurice Switzer

Credits: Recorded by Candace M. for News Now on CHRY 105.5 FM

Comments: 1. Matt Stevens speaks about how the HST is the tip of the iceberg, the Anishnabek is a nation, and Canada has no right to tax another nation. He got involved in this issue because he had to ask himself: "What legacy do I want to leave for the little ones?"

2. Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee discusses the economic implications of the tax for the Anishnabek Nation, citing Dr. Fred Lazare's recent report that $28-$38 million annually will be levied from the nation. After 6 minutes, there is a good quote about the G8/G20: "We're going to tell the world when the G8/G20 come here about them violating our treaties."

3. Maurice Switzer says that it is ridiculous to consider only the financial impacts of the HST on the already financially burdened nation. He says that this is a rights issue "like talking to a bank robber about trespassing."

4. Maurice Switzer describes the Wampum Belt (1764 Peace and Friendship Treaty) that he was carrying in his arms while speaking.

5. Grand Council Chief adds another brief comment about Dr. Lazare's report.