B.C. ad: Natives don't pay taxes

Bennett should apologize for offensive election ad, grand chief saysThe president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs wants a B.C. Liberal candidate in the East Kootenays to apologize for a campaign ad Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says is a backhanded slap at First Nations and his NDP opponent—a member of the Ktunaxa First Nation.

"All he has to do is to issue a statement saying that it was not his intent to offend First Nations or aboriginal people and that he would issue a public apology," Phillip said Thursday.

Bill Bennett placed the ad in a free weekly newspaper as part of his candidacy for the May 12 provincial election. The ad reads, "You want someone who pays taxes and is concerned about how the money is being spent," underneath a photo of Bennett and his family and a slogan that reads, "He's one of us."Natives say the ad is offensive:"There is no question in my mind, and in the mind of many native people I have spoken to, that this is a backhanded slap against First Nations people," Phillip told CBC News on Thursday morning.

Phillip said he was not surprised by the comments because Bennett had a reputation for "bombastic and bizarre behaviour" and was not known as a defender of First Nations rights.

Bennett was forced to step down from a junior cabinet post in 2007 after admitting he sent an email full of profanities to a constituent.

Bennett's chief rival in the Kootenay East riding is NDP candidate Troy Sebastian, a member of the Ktunaxa First Nation who lives on the Saint Mary's Indian Reserve.First Nations NDP candidate demands answers over B.C. Liberal attack adGrand Chief Stewart Phillip, of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs ... said the ad is clearly offensive because it implies First Nations don't have any knowledge or understanding about the government's management of services through taxes.

"The unspoken part is, 'My aboriginal opponent would not have any knowledge of these matters.'"

Stewart said Bennett may have resorted to using such a negative ad because he's desperate to win his seat for a third time in a riding that also has a strong B.C. Conservative party candidate.Comment:  Indians pay the same income, property, and sales taxes as everyone else with only a few exceptions. For more on the subject, see The Essential Facts About Indians.