‘What happened is really economic genocide’
Sitansisk (St. Mary’s) First Nation Chief says tax-sharing revenue enabled community to employ members at supermarket, but 2023 agreement cancellation led to closure decision
If Premier Blaine Higgs hadn’t cancelled a tax-sharing agreement with First Nations communities in the province, the St. Mary’s Supermarket wouldn’t be closing next month, says the Sitansisk chief.
The St. Mary’s Retail Sales board of directors announced Wednesday that the St. Mary’s Supermarket will cease operations as of June 30.
It blamed the decision on a convergence of two key factors: rising grocery costs from national suppliers, and the cancellation of a provincial tax-sharing agreement.
Sitansisk Chief Allan Polchies Jr., speaking about the closure with the Fredericton Independent on Thursday, said that tax agreement was established decades ago, and it served both First Nations communities and the provincial government well.
When Higgs cancelled it in January 2023, the chief said, the premier started a domino effect that took down the St. Mary’s grocery store.