Abegweit First Nations man pleads not guilty after cigarette bust, citing treaty rights – CBC

April 9, 2025

John Bernard argues he should be able to earn a moderate livelihood selling cigarettes

A man from the Abegweit First Nation who had unstamped tobacco seized from his car has pleaded not guilty to the charges on the grounds he has the treaty right to sell cigarettes without paying taxes to the government.

John Bernard, 63, said he was openly running a smoke shop out of his home on the reserve in Scotchfort, P.E.I., for about a year before he was pulled over by police and arrested.

During that time, he was travelling to the Listuguj First Nation in Quebec, just across the border from Campbellton, N.B., to purchase the unstamped tobacco from a shop there.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7504900