First Nations will no longer be required to give up their federal tax exemption on reserve lands when signing a modern treaty.
Previously, the Modern Treaty process required Nations to give up that right when entering into agreements with Canada.
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller says that the necessity to do so has been a significant roadblock to Nations advancing self-governing.
Now, Indigenous governments will have the choice to maintain existing tax arrangements, or to take up direct tax powers on their own timeline.
In addition, the new policy will also apply to former reserves, which ceased to be reserve lands following reconciliation agreements.
Under the new changes, First Nations community members will no longer have to trade their exemption from non-Indigenous government taxation to advance self-determination.
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