photo from yesterday, day 1 of protest
PROTEST EVENING POSTMORTEM:
I know that this small protest did reach the FIsters attending the conference and put them on notice–because most refused to look us in the eye.
This protest happened because of the dedication of on-site protesters including Atticus, Marie, Northernstar, Peter, Tricia, and WhiteKat, those (including Blaze and James Jatras) who helped in preparation of the letter to the Canadian Bankers Association that was critical to the protest, and because of the others I am not certain that I can mention.
Amazing people, all.
On-site coverage from IRSCompliantForever :
15.54. A last goodbye from all of us to the banksters.
15:03. Banker from small bank who hates FATCA just signed petition.
14:24. AttIcus just explained FATCA to passerby. Response was “Well, the banks need a little (words deleted).”
14:14. Banksters we meet all express sympathy but insist that there is no way to prevent FATCA. So many passerbys wondering about this FATCA word.
13:18. Fellow from one of the major banks visited with us had a friendly chat and accepted the CBA letter. He asked that we not disclose the name of his bank. Banksters are also taking pictures of us.
12.55. Another passerby came up to us expressing concern that her daughter has a Green Card.
Reports and photos of earlier today and yesterday after the jump
12:53. A passerby just came up to us expressing concern that she was born to a US parent and asked whether FATCA applied. Atticus explained and the woman thanked us for being here.
11:23. Unexpectedly another protester arrived with signs. Someone we all know.
11:13. Police have arrived again.
10:51. Nice sunny day. One bankster inside gave us the thumbs up. We had a nice chat with two reps of a major FI who accepted the CBA letter.
***
Day 1 of Protest – Yesterday, 13 November
13:40. Stuck on a narrow curb.
13:07. New development. Head of security informed us that we had to move to the curb in which we must remain 18 inches from the street. I called the police to resolve. Three police officers came and tried to intervene with security, but security refused as walkway is technically on private property. Want to emphasize that police tried their very best to help us. We will try not to tip over on curb. Lots of interest from passerbys. Morale very high.
12:50
12:46
12:13. Above is a photo of four Brocker/Sandboxers taken by a sympathetic passerby. Note that the person holding the “Do not marry an American” sign is a guest Brocker who is a kindly non-US spouse of a US person. She strongly supports the message of the sign and wants to be known as @LauraSecord. Small group but morale is high.
11:09. Met a fellow working for a bank. He says FATCA is painful.
11:02. Tricia, Marie, NorthernStar and IRSCompliantForever just spoke to a very friendly and receptive journalist who will include mention of our protest in an article He also said that this is the first FATCA protest he is aware of. We cannot mention name of journalist. We are pointing signs at the conference room. Doors are closed now so that banksters cannot see us.
09:37. Peter is standing immediately in front of the conference meeting room. We can see them and they can see us. But we cannot enter.
07:33. Peter and I are on site. We were told us that we would be arrested if we entered building. Tried to leave CBA letters but conference organizer refused and noted that our comments on IBS about CBA were inflammatory.
***
The conference is “Canadian Institute’s 19th Annual REGULATORY COMPLIANCE for Financial Institutions” at the North Building of the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto which has been brought to our attention through the diligence of @Tricia. http://www.regulatorycomplianceforfis.com/
Yes, that’s the direction from MP Ted Hsu’s office. Ours is not to reason why I guess — the format set out must be followed. We don’t want to have the wrong format and those different from that being negated / destroyed.
@ALL
How about :
Protect our Banking privacy
Say no to FATCA.
@Calgary411
The thought of watching politicians sing and dance is like imagining your parents having sex. I cringe.
Lots of LOL’s from you this morning, bubblebustin — and lots of me agreeing with your every thought!
@Calgary411
True on most politicians…but there have been some that were good, I guess.. For most it is very unnatural.
Thanks Calgary. As my now deceased mother used to say, I’m “full of p*ss and vinegar” today, bless her soul.
It’s improved my psyche knowing you and others have been out there protesting FATCA and yourselves feeling uplifted by the experience. It’s proving to be a very effective outlet for us, even if it’s vicariously. I’m looking forward to the opportunity of doing something on the west coast here when the occasion presents itself.
I just had a mild panic attack reading IRSCompliantForever’s comment re: that other than myself, only he and Northernstar are committed to attending the protest against the banks at least so far. I feel like I just keep digging a bigger and bigger hole for myself, particularaly since I have no CLN coming in the mail, and am a client at one of the big five with FACTA reportable accounts. Oooops, did I say that out loud? I hope it is sunny on Nov 13 and 14.
On that note, if we could get a larger crowd (closer to a dozen), then anyone such as myself, who wants to get lost in a sea of protestors, has ‘group protection’. The 2nd Ottawa protest was a mostly comfortable experience, I think, for everyone, due in large part, to the size of our group – not too small, and not too big.
Please, if anyone is waffling over whether or not to go, IRSCompliant, NorthernStar and myself sure would appreciate the company!
@WhteKat.
There is still time. don’t panic. You can wear big sunglasses and big hat . No need to id your name.
Someone once said protest signs need a DEMAND so …
BANK PRIVACY
DEMANDS
NO FATCA
@Em .
I like that..simple short and direct to the bankers..
Wonder if a LTTE would do any good or an ad in the toronto papers.
BANKS DON’T FATCA ME
We are now four protesters who will attend.
Soon we will be a throng.
@Bubble Bustin
I like that.
@IRS CompliantForever
I just called someone down “south” and asked if interested in going to the protest…Got a maybe.
Emphasizing FATCA’s application to Canadian registered accounts hits the CBA and their Investment arm buddies where they live. They badly want to sell those to us. They particularly want the new PRPPs to be made mandatory for private workplaces, and to reap all those new accounts and the lucrative administration fees – applied over all those many years span before retirement cash in.
FATCA on Canadian soil = Made-in-US law threat to Made-in-Canada savings (ex. TFSAs, RESPs, RDSPs, PRPPs, RRSPs, RRIFs)
How to work on a sign-bite to express that?
and,
Canadian Banksters and Buddies throw Canadian accountholders and savings under the US FATCA bus.
I have looked over the agenda…it appears that the time devoted to FATCA will be for one hour on November 14th @ 1:30 pm. It would be delightful if some Brockers could sneak into the conference room and shout down Mr. John Staples, Managing Partner of Burt Staples & Maner LLP.
Do these people have any idea of who we are and the destruction they are causing in our lives?
Ironically, the next topic of discussion after FATCA is Privacy!
@Cerium, I agree that it would be ideal if some of us could attend the FATCA talk on Thursday. But it is not a good idea for us to try to sneak in— and registration cost is a whopping $2300.
–However, if we can only attend one day of the meeting—Thursday–FATCA day– should probably be the day.
Yes, an interesting coincidence that Goodis, of the Ontario Privacy Commissioner’s office, will be speaking right after the FATCA talk.
Could someone provide a sign that mentions both FATCA and the “complicit by association” Ontario Privacy Commissioner?
If anyone wishes to point out to the Ontario Privacy Commissioner the inconsistency of providing a lecture on privacy immediately following one on FATCA, they could send their opinion to Mr. David Goodis with cc’ing the Ontario Privacy Commissioner at: info@ipc.on.ca
http://www.ipc.on.ca/english/About-Us/How-to-Reach-Us/
@northern star
Thank-you.
@Cerium398, IRSCompliantForever, all
Definite opportunity here. How about a sign that reads “CANADA’S PRIVACY COUNTS – STOP FATCA” ?
@NorthernStar,
Well, it sounds like Thursday is a key day. I was thinking of staying in hotel Tues and Wed night, but need somewhere to put my bags on Thursday in order to hang around on Thursday as well. Got any suggestions? I wonder if the hotel will hold them for the afternoon if I checkout in the morning.
WhiteKat,
Hotels usually have such a space for holding your luggage after you check out so you’re not charged for another day. I’ve done it several times with no problem. Perhaps check with them if you reserve ahead.
bubblebustin, I saw that singing Cowboy Harper clip. Ironic in light of his quip about Trudeau and Canadian Idol during his speech at the convention.
I agree that singing party leaders would be a painful trend for Canadians to have to endure. I can’t picture Mulcair ever surrendering that much of his dignity, but I can totally see JT doing it. I wonder if that sweet little lisp of his carries over to his singing voice? lol.
And I say “no” to anything that compares Americans in Canada to Jews during the Holocaust. Not comparable and it tends to make observers snarly b/c the implications are so heinous. This despite the fact that at times I feel as though the Canadian govt falls just short of collaborator status where the US is concerned at time.
ComplianceNever just received an email from another determined person who will be attending the protest despite having to travel a good part of the day to get to Toronto and then return home–and who will also bring a sign.
ComplianceNever@gmail.com
Got another possible (kinda wicked) slogan …
BANKERS:
DON’T BE
FATCADS!
@EM
FATCADS, that is a gem
@All
How about we have a little cheer on FATCA or sing O Canada…(my singing voice is not really good. I can’t carry a tune but I like to sing My one year old covered my mouth when we sang in the Moms and Tots sing along…LOL..
@IRS Compliant
Great news , a new ant!
Does it look like just the 14th then for our protests?