Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson with members of the Bigstone Cree Nation. (Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Province discontinuing Alberta Indian Tax Exemption card, but will keep tax exemptions

Aug 25, 2021 | 2:54 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Alberta Government is taking a step that it believes will make “life easier” for First Nations peoples in the province.

They will be discontinuing the Alberta Indian Tax Exemption (AITE) card, effective Oct. 4.

Qualifying tax exemptions will remain in place. Instead, Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson says you will only need to have a federal Certificate of Indian Status card.

“First Nations leaders have asked me to eliminate the AITE card since I became minister of Indigenous Relations. We engaged with leaders and retailers and now we are getting rid of this unnecessary extra step for First Nations consumers. We are proud to continue removing barriers for First Nations people in Alberta.”

Eligible First Nations people and bands can buy fuel products, tobacco, or accommodations on-reserve in Alberta without having additional taxes or levies.

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Minister of Red Tape Reductions Tanya Fir says this is part of their efforts to reduce redundancies in provincial regulations.

As of January 2021, there were 115 registered AITE retail locations in Alberta, representing 99 unique legal entities.

First Nations people without a status card can apply for one online here.