On-Reserve Businesses Bracing For New Law

On-Reserve Businesses Bracing For New Law

Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 14:37

 

 

Managers of on-reserve gas stations in the province say they are expecting confusion when a new tobacco law comes into effect in a few days time.

 

Earlier this year, the province announced that it was limiting the number of cigarette cartons First Nations people can buy tax-free on reserves.

 

They used to be able to buy three cartons — but that figure is going down to one.

 

The new law officially comes into effect on Thursday.

 

However, it likely won’t be operational until July 5th.

 

Judy Constant is the manager at the Muskoday Gas Bar.

 

She feels the new law could cost her outlet business, because “every other customer” currently purchases three cartons.

 

An employee at another on-reserve station explains that under the new law, his business will receive less tax-free cartons than before.

 

He worries many people won’t realize that, though, and will wonder why they can’t simply buy what’s on the shelves.

 

Tobacco covered under the tax-free exemption will have peach-coloured tear-tape markings.

 

The regular tobacco has beige-coloured markings.