MP Daryl Kramp says he refuses to be intimidated by Mohawk protester Shawn Brant's warning the Conservative member is "not welcome on Mohawk land."
Brant confronted Kramp at a sod turning event Saturday for the new skateboard park at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Brant approached Kramp during the ceremony, questioning him about the Harmonized Sales Tax and its potential impact on First Nations communities.
Brant, following the event, admitted he had attended with the intent of being harsh with the Prince Edward-Hastings MP.
"Come July 1, all the people of Ontario and British Columbia — First Nations people — for the first time ever will have the imposition of the combined Harmonized Sales Tax," Brant said. "Right now, there's exemptions that exist for people based upon agreements with governments and treaties and things like that. The federal Conservative government has decided that First Nations people should bare the burden of paying the Harmonized Sales tax and I didn't think it was appropriate for Mr. Kramp to come into our community when we face an incredible financial burden ... (that) he should be able to walk in here and not be confronted harshly based on what his government is doing."
Brant said he was "deservedly" harsh with Kramp. He said Tyendinaga is one of many First Nation communities living with poor water quality and it was "highly inappropriate" for government officials to be turning sod for a skateboard park when they should be turning sod for a water treatment plant.
The governments of Canada and Ontario have each committed up to $162,917 toward the project. The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $488,750.
"To think they can come into our community and glad-hand or give the perception that we're somehow relinquishing any opposition to the Harmonized sales Tax based on receiving a skateboard park.... Our young people deserve that and it's going to be a great facility for them, but it can't be taken in sense of a government spending priority when so many other social issues exist," Brant said.
Kramp said the confrontation with Brant was fully expected based on the man's history. He said someone with a legitimate concern should discuss it rather than disrupt what was supposed to be a celebratory event.
"He thinks he can intimidate anyone he runs across and, obviously, that's not the case," Kramp said.
Brant's concerns about the HST, Kramp said, are no different than anyone else's.
"Are there areas where taxes are going to be applied differently? Obviously, there are," Kramp said. "Those are situations that are worthy of conversation and they're worthy of investigation and they're worthy of discussion but doing it with threats of intimidation is certainly no way to do it."
Brant said he hoped to deliver a message to Kramp when he disrupted Saturday's event.
"Hopefully," Brant said, "he takes (Saturday) as a lesson and he knows he's not welcome on Mohawk land."
Kramp, however, said Brant does not speak for everyone on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. He said Brant's comment "displays a shocking amount of ignorance."
"There's a tremendous group of people on the reserve who are wonderful, caring people who have contributed so much to their community. My goal is to work with one and all and not be intimidated by one person who has no respect for procedure or other people."