Nisga’a Lisims Government Deciding on Whether or Not to Keep Existing Tax Arrangements as Exemptions Set to be Reinstated

Ottawa’s decision to restore tax exemptions for treaty First Nations means the Nisga’a Nation will have to make a tough decision of their own.

Last July, Canada announced they would be restoring Section 87 tax exemptions initially removed upon signing a Modern Treaty.

But they left the decision on whether or not to keep existing tax arrangements through First Nations governments up to each Nation.

For the Nisga’a Lisims Government, that choice will come down to whether or not they can keep up service levels through the lost revenues.

Nisga’a citizens will be able to use their sales tax exemptions on reserves and former reserves without their own tax arrangements beginning next January.

Income earned on said lands is also exempt from taxation, subject to existing arrangements.

But the exemptions won’t apply on Nisga’a Nation lands in the Nass Valley until the NLG makes their final decision.

Regardless, citizens will need to get a new status card to update their eligibility, with Indigenous Services Canada currently planning to open applications in September.