Interesting commentary piece in today’s Globe and Mail suggests that Harper and Obama have run out of patience with each other, and we should expect this situation to get worse not better.
The usual suspects of disagreement are trotted out from the stalled Keystone XL pipeline to the recent posturing on Israel that Harper is milking for all that it is worth.
However, the author makes no mention of the FATCA IGA that no one outside the sitting government seems to have any firm details on, nor does it mention the coming panic in Canada when more and more Canadian citizens fall victim to the blatant financial data grab that FATCA really is.
There were about 90 comments. I didn’t note any FATCA related ones but perhaps those Brockers who comment at G&M might have the time to add FATCA to the list of irritating issues between Canada and the US.
@ Yoga Girl
Canada is desperate to have the Keystone pipeline approved. Canada is also desperate to have a new international bridge constructed at Detroit (I think it is), but it can’t get underway until the USG provides funds to build its own U.S. Customs “plaza”, which it hasn’t. On both these Canadian “wants”, the US is clearly stalling.
From the American point of view, an IGA with the Canadian government is clearly what they want right now. And, here, Canada is clearly stalling.
I see the mind of the Yankee trader at work here, thinking/saying, in effect: “You want something from us, we want something from you.” I don’t like what this portends.
Keystone and the bridge (is that at Detroit?) are important but apparently not important enough or the IGA would already be signed and acknowledged. Either that or the Keystone stalling is what is holding up the IGA signing. It’s not in Obama’s best interests to approve Keystone now or even in the near term future and Canada has to be fully aware of how few IGAs have been signed, who has signed them and who hasn’t and that the US Treasury dept is really in no position to begin withholding sanctions this coming year given the budget and manpower issues at present. The USG also knows it can’t really roll out FATCA without more countries on board.
I realize that Canada is at a distinct disadvantage when dealing with the US, but Baird has been snarly with Kerry and Harper is royally pissing off the White House with his Israel trip and his stubborn refusal to get in line of Iraq. And let’s not forget that Canada has all but left the UN building.
Nope. I don’t think all is what it seems. Canada gains nothing by signing an IGA before several key issues are resolved. I don’t see that happening.
If you can hold the nausea down reading the US Treasury comments, there is a comment that relates to the state of Canada’s eagerness to sign and IGA here:
http://www.newsdaily.com/asia/322aca061c1220f2c7b584a698dc500a/us-global-tax-law-unhurt-by-republicans-treasury-official
“While the Treasury has so far signed more than a dozen of these deals, negotiations with other countries – notably Canada and China – have struggled, sources have said.”
@pacifica, sorry, I wasn’t clear, it wasn’t at IBS, it was at the G &M that I couldn’t get my comment to stick -even though I was logged in and had only one URL. I’ll try again.
badger, the G&M has an interesting comment glitch issue. Comments that might be more factual and enlightening the article seem to disappear.
@ Yoga Girl
Oh dear. Not sure what that says about mine which did stay put. Although in the past I’ve had a comment or two which didn’t get posted at G&M. 🙁
Em, lol. Curious system but not bullet proof. I am certain that you were quite factual and enlightening though given the audience there, it’s impact might have been limited.
A nice companion piece to your post here Yoga Girl:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/11/11/why-us-must-rekindle-its-relationship-with-canada-yes-canada/
A nice piece but lacks an mention of FATCA. Naturally. And this, of course, should make us question just what even in the know Americans actually know about FATCA, which is precious little beyond the skillfully created and rabidly shilled IRS narrative.
I had to chuckle about the “Obama should plan a few visits.” I don’t think he is welcome in Ottawa unless it is to bring building permit for Keystone.
And gods forbid we should do anything with NAFTA other than stake and bury it.
More evidence of crankiness between BFF’s:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-krauthammer-stop-kicking-canada-around/2014/01/23/0398b8fa-846a-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_story.html