Vol. 145, No. 21 — October 12, 2011
Registration
SOR/2011-214 September 30, 2011
FIRST NATIONS GOODS AND SERVICES TAX ACT
Order Amending Schedule 1 to the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act, No. 2011–2 (Songhees First Nation)
P.C. 2011-1119 September 29, 2011
His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, pursuant to section 15 (see footnote a) of the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act (see footnote b), hereby makes the annexed Order Amending Schedule 1 to the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act, No. 2011-2 (Songhees First Nation).
ORDER AMENDING SCHEDULE 1 TO THE FIRST
NATIONS GOODS AND SERVICES TAX ACT,
NO. 2011–2 (SONGHEES FIRST NATION)
AMENDMENT
1. Schedule 1 to the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act (see footnote 1) is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:
|
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
|
Songhees First Nation |
Council of the Songhees First Nation |
Reserves of the Songhees First Nation |
COMING INTO FORCE
2. This Order comes into force on the day on which it is registered.
REGULATORY IMPACT
ANALYSIS STATEMENT
(This statement is not part of the Order.)
Issue and objectives
The Songhees First Nation, which is situated near Victoria, British Columbia, asked to be listed in Schedule 1 to the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act in order to be able to implement the First Nations Goods and Services Tax (FNGST). Section 15 of the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act provides that Schedule 1 may be amended by order for that purpose. This Order in Council will enable the Songhees First Nation, with the agreement of Canada, to exercise a GST-type tax power within its lands.
Description and rationale
The attached Order amends Schedule 1 to the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act by adding:
— the name of the Songhees First Nation;
— the name of the governing body of the Songhees First Nation; and
— the description of the lands where the Songhees First Nation goods and services tax law could apply.
Amending Schedule 1 to the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act in this fashion makes it possible for the governing body of the Songhees First Nation, with the agreement of Canada, to enact a law that imposes a tax like the federal Goods and Services Tax within the reserves of the Songhees First Nation. This type of tax is referred to generically as a First Nations goods and services tax (FNGST). The amendment also makes it possible for Canada and the Songhees First Nation to enter into a tax administration agreement in respect of the FNGST, which is required for the FNGST to come into force.
Listing the Songhees First Nation in Schedule 1 is an enabling measure that makes it possible for the First Nation to enact a law imposing a tax like the GST but does not obligate it to do so and does not obligate the Government of Canada or the First Nation to enter into an agreement concerning the administration of the First Nation’s law. The FNGST comes into force when the tax administration agreement with Canada comes into effect and remains in force during the period when the tax administration agreement is in effect.
If a First Nation that is listed in Schedule 1 were to enact a law imposing the FNGST and enter into a tax administration agreement with the Government of Canada in respect of that law, then the First Nation would realize, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, a stream of revenue that could be used for the First Nation’s purposes.
Consultation
The Songhees First Nation requested that Schedule 1 to the First Nations Goods and Services Tax Act be amended to include its name, the name of its governing body and the description of the lands where the First Nation’s goods and services tax law could apply. The amendment is consistent with the wishes of the Songhees First Nation.
Contact
Ken Medd
Aboriginal Tax Policy Section
Department of Finance
140 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5
Telephone: 613-996-2192
Footnote a
S.C. 2005, c. 19, s. 9
Footnote b
S.C. 2003, c. 15, s. 67
Footnote 1
S.C. 2003, c. 15, s. 67