Mohawk Tobacco Company Makes Case At FSIN Assembly

Mohawk Tobacco Company Makes Case At FSIN Assembly

Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 15:29

The fight over First Nations tobacco was brought to the floor of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations’ assembly today.

Robbie Dixon, the CEO of Rainbow Tobacco, spoke about his fight with various levels of government.

Dixon says his Mohawk-owned company is licensed, regulated and fully compliant with all regulations.

But he says the governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta are seizing his group’s cigarettes.

Last month, 100 cartons destined for the FSIN assembly were taken because provincial sales tax had not been paid on them.

Dixon says government officials had no right to seize them, because they didn’t have jurisdiction to take smokes destined for First Nations territory.

He is calling on First Nations to develop their own tobacco legislation to circumvent the problem.