Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 24, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press thursday june 24, 2004 a3 former bikers Leader convicted judge finds Stadnick guilty of conspiracy Montreal ? Walter Nugget stad Nick the Man who police say brought the Hells Angels to Manitoba was convicted yesterday of conspiracy to murder. Stadnick 51, and Donald Pup Stock Ford 42, both former National presidents of the Hells Angels were found guilty of leading a conspiracy to kill rival gang members to control Quebec a drug Trade. Their conviction closes the final Chap Ter on one of the most violent crime Waves in the country a history. These enemy bikers included the Alliance the dark Circle the Rock machine the bandidos and Independent drug traffickers who refused to join the Hells Angels. The War which lasted from 1994 to 2001, Cost the lives of 164 people and included More than 500 other acts of violence including assaults bombings and fire bombings. While Stadnick was found guilty on the murder conspiracy charge Superior court judge Jerry Zigman found him not guilty on 13 counts of first degree murder and three counts of attempted murder. The Crown had admitted Dur ing the trial it had no direct evidence linking Stadnick with the murders but argued his senior position within the nomads essentially made him guilty by association. Added to this argument was defence lawyer Alan Gold a surprising admission at the beginning of the trial the Angels were a criminal organization Bent on monopolizing the drug Trade. Police blamed Stadnick for bringing the Hells Angels to Manitoba Ontario and Alberta transforming the Quebec based outlaw bikers into a National Force across Canada. Winnipeg was his second Home for about six years during the ?90s, As he put together a network of bikers and businessmen to expand the Quebec drug pipeline westwards and stave off expansion of rival outlaw motorcycle gangs ? the outlaws the Rock machine and the bandidos. That network would eventually Call itself the recliners a Short lived third motorcycle gang to compete with los bravos and spartans for member ship in the new Hells Angels Manitoba chapter. Stadnick had been visiting Winnipeg from Hamilton and his base in Sorel que., since the late 1980s. He had a girl Friend Here and the couple had a baby boy. Both still live in Winnipeg. On Jan. 16, 1992, Stadnick was arrested by City police and charged under the narcotics control act with Possession of the proceeds of crime ? suspected drug profits. He was picked up at the Winnipeg International Airport with More than $80,000 in a bag. On Jan. 23, 1995, the Crown stayed the charge after an agreement was reached that he forfeit the Money to Revenue Canada to pay any outstanding tax or penalties. Yesterday Zigman ruled with out direct evidence he could not convict Stadnick of first degree murder. ? can West news service first nations sales tax in works province May hand Over Levy collected on reserves by Dan Lett m Manitoba first nations will be allowed to keep provincial sales tax on gasoline and tobacco sold on reserves under a Pilot program now being negotiated by the nip government. The provincial finance department has struck a working group to discuss the Pilot project with the Assembly of Mani Toba chiefs Manitoba Keewatin now Okima kanak which is an umbrella group representing Northern first nations and the Southern chiefs organization. Grand chief Dennis White Bird head of the Assembly of Manitoba chiefs said the retention of provincial sales tax on goods and services sold on Reserve has been a longstanding Issue Between the province and Manitoba a 62 reserves. Right now what we Are is the tax collector for the province said White Bird. We want to retain the taxes we collect on Reserve. These Are really our own ultimately White Bird said the Pilot project should Lead to creation of a first nations sales tax to replace both the Feder Al and provincial sales taxes for goods and services sold on Reserve. There is one catch for interested first nations in order to be eligible to keep the Revenue they must see the sales tax is charged to All customers even status indians. Manitoba finance minister Greg Selinger said the tax sharing plan is designed not Only to provide first nations with a new source of Revenue but also to create a More level playing Field Between aboriginal and non aboriginal businesses. Currently on Reserve businesses do not charge sales taxes to aboriginal customers. Selinger said All first nations in the Pilot project would charge All customers ? aboriginal or non aboriginal ? a first nations sales tax equal to the provincial sales tax. Right now what we Are is the tax collector for the province ? grand chief Dennis White Bird for the first nations they have to charge the tax to every body including their own members said Selinger. This will level the playing Field for the whole business the Federal government already allows eight first nations across Canada to retain the goods and services tax As a first nations tax on sales of alcohol tobacco and gasoline. Some provinces such As British Columbia allow limited tax sharing on sales of tobacco. However with a growing number of first nations boasting businesses that serve both aboriginal and non aboriginal customers the Revenue up for grabs could be substantial. In addition Many Manitoba first nations Are looking at buy ing real estate and businesses in non aboriginal communities to create Urban reserves. Under Manitoba a Pilot project Selinger said first nations would be eligible to keep Provin Cial sales tax on any goods or services As Long As it was charged to All customers. The Manitoba program if fully implemented would result in a loss of tax Revenue for the province Selinger said adding a rough estimate has been calculated but it cannot be released to the Public yet. Ultimately it should be possible to extend the first nations sales tax to All goods and services sold on Reserve and not just gasoline tobacco and alcohol Selinger added. trans Canada will get a $300 signing Bonus a $200 Lump sum payment dec. 1 and a wage increase of 50 cents an hour by the time their new contract expires november 2005. This is an example of How Union Solidarity can work to earn our members a respectable agreement said Robert Ziegler president of the United food and commercial workers local. Management tabled the new offer soon after the strike began monday. I Brief family cat Dies in fire the family cat died in a fire at 175 Hindley ave., in St. Vital yesterday morning. The cause of the fire that caused $120,000 damage to the one and a half Storey Home is under investigation but firefighters suspect it was electrical. Damage to contents from the fire that started in the basement was estimated at $80,000. Tannery workers end strike workers at a fur Tannery at 367 Poplar ave. Are heading Back to work after a three Day strike that won them a better contract ;