Thunder Bay welcomes Aboriginal dollars

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY –Local businesses are being encouraged by the Chamber of Commerce to post “Status Cards Welcome” decals and to make their use a positive experience.

“It will help everybody by bringing an awareness and understanding of the rights that Aboriginal people have as consumers,” says Joe Moses, a Pic River citizen and chair of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Aboriginal Opportunities Committee. “When we continue to have that dialogue about what status cards are, what the rights of Aboriginal people are, it creates more understanding from everybody involved, the general population, the vendors and the Aboriginal people themselves.”

The Ontario government announced in 2010 that the point-of-sale Retail Sales Tax exemption would continue for Status Indians. Status Indians, Indian bands and councils of an Indian band are entitled to an exemption from paying the eight per cent Ontario component of the 13 per cent HST on qualifying property or services at point-of-sale.

“A lot of people don’t understand why status cards are in place,” Moses says. “They are part of treaty, they are part of law. Aboriginal consumers are entitled to the use of them and I don’t think enough (information) has been put out there to promote it and understand it.”

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce reintroduced the Status Cards Welcome decals during an Oct. 15 presentation at the Intercity Shopping Centre. The decals had originally been introduced about 10 years ago.

“The Aboriginal community makes a significant contribution to the Thunder Bay economy,” Moses says. “By displaying this decal, the business is showing Aboriginal customers that their patronage is appreciated and that staff has been trained in proper handling of status card transactions.”

The Aboriginal workforce contributes from $254 million to $383 million per year to the Thunder Bay economy, according to a recent Thunder Bay Ventures study.

“In addition, community members, families, students and leaders from remote communities frequently travel to the city for business and personal reasons,” Moses says. “These repeat visitors spend significant dollars in our community. Those dollars create jobs and contribute to the success of small and large businesses alike across the city.”

Moses says the repeat visitors often purchase groceries, clothing and other items not available in their remote communities, including birthday and Christmas gifts and motor vehicles.

“It is expected that the Aboriginal contribution in Thunder Bay will continue to grow,” Moses says. “As such, it is important to ensure that all customers recognize local businesses as an accepting and inclusive place to make their purchases.”

Moses says the initial introduction of the Status Cards Welcome decals was successful.

“The difference this time around is we’re plugging it into the Aboriginal Opportunities Committee,” Moses says. “This is one of many initiatives we hope to launch within the next year. We’re continuing to develop our mandate — a big focus is on education, workforce engagement.”