FATCA Fact Sheet Anti-FATCA Slogans Protest Press Release
AtticusinCanada has received an official permit to protest on Parliament Hill Oct. 16, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.! We will meet at 9 a.m. in front of Parliament Hill and proceed to the Hill itself once we have a reasonably sized group. Families and even children are welcome if you feel they are old enough! We ask that everyone bring their own sign. A good idea would be to email AtticusinCanada with the slogans you would like to use, so we have as few duplicates as possible.
First posted on September 11, 2013
The mini-protest in Ottawa on Sept 9, 2013, garnered some well needed media attention. Just imagine how much we could achieve if more Brockers joined forces for a larger protest at parliament hill this fall!
Many of us believe that a formal announcement of an IGA for FATCA is just around the corner. It’s time to ramp up with the push back. The letter writing and emailing to our elected representatives has been great, and some illuminating articles have been written by Lynne and Victoria, but we need to do more.
Atticusincanada and I would like to be the drivers towards organizing a larger protest, but first we need to gather enough participants. For those Brockers who can commit to coming to Ottawa for a day, and would like to join us, please email Atticusincanada at atticusincanada@gmail.com.
USCAbroad, I copied that article and tweeted.
I also started a Kijiji ad to try and get a group info session going here locally, drive people who don’t know yet to this site and to see who among that group wants to protest. You can do one locally too.
d_mn. The biggest political outrage here is the tax on driving to work. There is a mass demonstration on Saturday supporting it. And the administration specifically decided not to discuss NSA spying on Sweden ( because Sweden is complicit).. Pretty hard to present any intelligent discussion about FATCA>
My wife and I are just finishing moving and sale of house, so it hasn’t been possible for me to participate in this discussion. Things are only now getting settled in.
I suggest that those of us in Ottawa find a way to get together and get to know each other a bit socially. Ottawa Public Library has meeting rooms, and there are other possibilities too. I think this might be preliminary to any organising for demonstrations. I am not sure what I can take on for the moment, and for that matter I will be out of Canada for three months, beginning mid or late October.
@ Northern Shrike,
I just sent you an e-mail. Look forward to meeting you!
@ all in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario,
There’s 10 of us Ottawa Brockers so far – looks like 11 now – who have been getting together for lunch or coffee. We attended the NDP FATCA info session, made an announcement and handed out cards directing people to the Brock website. And most recently this week WhiteKat and Atticus’ rather spontaneous “Two Mom Protest” resulted Finance Minister Flaherty being questioned about FATCA at a press conference and an article in The Globe and Mail!
Ottawa Brockers are organising more, and larger, protest against FATCA here in the capital, and we enjoy getting together, sharing moral support, and having a good time as well.
So, if you’re in Eastern Ontario and want to get together to socialise and/or protest, let us know and we’ll e-mail you.
Unfortunately, those of us on the West Coast (especially those who don’t have as much disposable income to get a flight out to Ottawa) will have to opt out.
@The Animal,
But there may well be a good opportunity to protest in BC as well. If the Finance Minister or External Affairs Minister is making a speech or holding a press conference there or something like that. Or perhaps a protest in front of the Vancouver Consulate.
Also as for local Brockers getting together, I’ve found that just getting together in person with others caught up in this US mess, just to talk and provide moral support, in itself, has been really beneficial.
@the Animal, Pacifica777
Count me in on the west coast, tennis shoes and all.
If we can set one up, bubblebustin, pacifica777, I’m in. I’m 100% Canadian, but well…it affects all of us.
Just my opinion, The Animal, but I think we should wait until there’s an event where the press will be present, similar to the first one. The opportunity will present itself. Nothing like a captive audience!
But I wouldn’t mind getting together with you and Pacifica for some coffee. Moral and emotional support in this day and age is a godsend, considering the boat we seem to find ourselves in.
@ The Animal,
I’m actually in Ottawa, so I can’t unfortunately. We’ve got together here a number of times in the past two years – we started with 3 and now there’s about 10 or 12 of us (that we know of so far). I really recommend meeting for coffee or lunch. I’ve found that just chatting in person with others who have been affected by this really has been a godsend.
@the Animal. Sorry, didn’t mean to lead you to believe that Pacifica lives here…but there are a few others, those of us who met when Victoria came to Vancouver, Tiger, tdott, kermitzii, Arrow and me. Perhaps we can have a reunion including you some time.
I have a suggestion. Since the most active members here seem to be women, how about contacting the first lady, Michelle Obama? You could focus on the emotional drain on your families, the relationship challenge of reporting your spouse’s assets, and the fear of not being able to see your relatives in the US again. First ladies often create programs to help women and families, and sometimes outside the US too. I don’t know if this is a ridiculous suggestion or what the first lady could do in this case, but I think it’s worth a try.
@Shadow, for those interested in doing so you can be my guest. I have nothing to say to Ms. Obama. She has only focused on obesity and hasn’t done a lot concerning women’s issues or any other issue. I highly doubt she’d buck her spouses wishes given her lack of activism while first lady. However, if someone wants to give it a shot it would be a real boon if she actually answered someone.
I am keeping my efforts as far as pols go to Canadian only representatives. The U.S. seems to care nothing for me.
P.S. Shadow, don’t think any suggestion is ridiculous. I personally just have nothing to say to the woman though others might have.
@shadow raider
It’s a valid suggestion and thanks for making it. I guess I could come from the angle of what it would have been like if her husband had remained living in Indonesia and having to deal with the IRS several decades later, but like Atticus has pointed out, what’s the chance of her giving her husband a smack upside the head for landing me in the predicament I’m in?
Justin Trudeau is speaking at Ryerson tomorrow.
Bubblebustin and all here in Vancouver – Harper is speaking at the airport tomorrow morning
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=5666
I really like it that this is breaking down to different contingents for different cities. Toronto and Vancouver tomorrow. Why are they announcing this stuff so late! I must get on top of this and start following more closely each of their websites. It looks like many did not know about Trudeau tomorrow though.
Harper at the Vancouver airport too! Sheesh! No trains tonight for Toronto or I’d just go tomorrow myself. Anyone up for either of these?
I just heard a bit on the news then went searching and found the announcement. It may too late, but I’m trying to find a way to get myself there in the morning.
Sorry, no can do. I live on the Sunshine Coast and would need a little more heads up to ‘immobilize’. Makes me think that I should buy some coroplast and have some signs ready, and some leaflets…
GO CANADIAN GIRL!
Huzza for Canadian Girl!!
We need an alert system here.
Thank you Canadian Girl!! 😀
@bubblebustin, @ALL, I made this suggestion after I got back from Ottawa. It takes time to make those signs. It sounds silly but, get ready and have yours set to go. Make one ahead of time and stash it so it’s ready to go! White Kat can tell you this was one thing we discussed at length that day. How late we were up making a sign! I’m going to do another one as I left mine with White Kat so as not to have to carry it back on the train. Also, that means there is an extra one in Ottawa for upcoming events.
Canadian Girl, can’t wait to hear how things go for you tomorrow!