UPDATE:
This article has also been published at The Hill’s Congress Blog. It’s a great opportunity to directly reach a Congressional audience so we encourage readers to get over there and comment!
This is the second article by Caldwell in Canada’s conservative-leaning Financial Post and is much stronger than the first. I have asked Mr. Caldwell to send his article as a submission to Canada Finance (deadline March 10).
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2014/02/11/canadas-u-s-tax-capitulation/
A few excerpts:
“FATCA, passed by the U.S. Congress in 2010, is an extension of America’s anomalous and larcenous practice of demanding taxes from people, regardless of where they reside in the world. The United States is one of only two countries that engage in this disgraceful conduct (Eritrea being the other.)
….Let us eliminate a deliberate misconception: This agreement is not about catching “tax cheats” as its proponents aver and journalists obediently repeat. It is about expanding America’s oversight of global commerce, while increasing its ability to confiscate funds to which it has no legitimate claim.
Notwithstanding that Canada’s leaders have subjected their citizens to the most rapacious and malevolent tax department in the world in the form of the IRS, they have committed a craven surrender of national sovereignty.
As a dual citizen I appreciate and have benefited from the unique trading relationship of these two countries. But in this case the United States is being a bully and, like many bullies, needs a smack in the nose. Canada, meanwhile, needs a leader with the sand to deliver it.
A simple no would suffice. Call America’s bluff, if indeed that’s what it is. If however the U.S. means what it says and really were to begin slapping a 30% withholding tax on Canadian investors, Canada should respond by granting an immediate tax credit in that amount to affected individuals and institutions. This may take a bite out of federal tax receipts, but right is right. If America’s largest trading partner were willing to stand up against such preposterous demands, other countries woudl have the courage and blueprint to do the same….”
“We might attend a Canada Day celebration somewhere this year but if we do we will silently turn our backs to it and wear black armbands to commemorate the death of Canada’s sovereignty”
We might also heckle and carry Eritrean Flags and yell “Harper American Stooge, we want our Charter back”
ChearsBigEars,
Happy to do so. Already done! She can check off many comments from my email.
Let me paraphrase this from a famous movie: Though we didn’t like Jack as the bad guy, his words were very apt:
To Harper, Flaherty and Findlay (paraphrased)
“Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Flaherty? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Canada’s financial institutions, and you curse the dual citizenry. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That the banks’ profit forfeiture, while tragic, probably saves lives. And my existence as a Canadian Patriot, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You, Harper, use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that we, as patriots, provide, and then questions the manner in which we provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, told the US to fuck off and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.”
“You fuckin’ people… you have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Harper. That’s all you did. You put people’s lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son.”
@ChearsBigEars
Here’s mine:
Dear Minister Findlay,
Canadians have just been informed that many of us will be under additional scrutiny of the IRS due to the Intergovernmental Agreement Canada has entered into with the United States.
We are confused as to what to do next, as many of us have only become aware of our tax filing obligations to the IRS.
Some of us are planning an information session in Vancouver to address some of these concerns. We would be honoured if you would attend, to give us the Canadian government’s perspective on this. Considering our government’s decision has resulted in life altering consequence for 3% of Canadians and their families, you may want to take the opportunity to perhaps meet some of your constituents face to face.
WHEN: 1 pm, February 22, 2014
WHERE: 1010 Richards St., Vancouver, BC (enter rear of building)
I would appreciate a call as to whether you will be attending or not, or should you need more information please don’t hesitate to call (phone number).
Best regards,
(Bubblebustin’s real name)
Yes – I’m glad you mentioned Kerry Lynne Findlay. She is a Vancouver area MP with lots of dual citizens as her riding is just 20 minutes from the border. I’ve updated her Wikipedia profile so that she gets some credit under “Notable Accomplishments” for the FATCA IGA. Here it is. I encourage everyone to update and edit it so that it is accurate:
Notable Accomplishments[edit]
On February 5, 2014 along with Finance Minister Flaherty, Minister of National Revenue Findlay finalized and completed Canada’s participation in the Foreign Tax Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) with the US government. The US-Canada Intergovernmental Agreement (“IGA”) will enable Canadian banks to submit information on Canadian clients who may be also considered “US Persons”. Under the IGA, Canadian banks will do a search for clients who have US indicia such as place of birth and report this information to the Canada Revenue Agency whom will then forward the information on to the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IGA will help to enable the United States government to track US-Canadian dual citizens who have not filed United States tax returns even where the citizen has lived his/her entire adult life in Canada and has never worked or earned income in the United States. The IGA will greatly facilitate the ability of the United States to keep track of United States citizens who have since immigrated to countries such as Canada. Only the United States and Eritrea operate their tax systems on the basis of citizenship. Minister Findley played a key role in terms of utilizing the Canada Revenue Agency as a reporting agent in Canada for a foreign government that practices Eritrean-style taxation by citizenship
Here is the Wikipedia entry for Minister Findley. Please help to ensure it is accurate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry-Lynne_Findlay
BERMUDA:
The US FATCA final regulations are nearly 500 pages long and difficult to read especially for those who have not had any prior US tax legislation experience.
Anonymous has hacked the Federal Reserve Bank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6w6NaPuIU0&feature=youtu.be
Still feel safe having your private banking data “shared” south of the border? They did it to prove a point but, someone else could do this or hack any “agency” where your data is “shared” down there and have hold of your private banking information.
To clarify, they did this in 2013 but, I just learned this happened which gives me pause to say the least.
Correct video:
I support them too.
Btw, the cross border information and being detained? Read this article. Look at all the agencies who will have access to your information once it is on the other side of the border if they so choose to share it.
http://taxconnections.com/taxblog/home-sweet-home-for-international-tax-collection/#.UvsBlSiqQVl
message sent to Minster Findlay
I certainly hope she attends the vancouver meeting to get our side of things cause from the outside looking in it certainly does not look good…….
@atticusincanada
Unbelievable… so if the info is wrong.. which is highly possible… they can frigging screw u over for tons in legal fees or everything. What the heck is this crap… so when u enter the US not realizing u are going to have a problem… u need to make sure u have an attorney on speed dial.. talk about legal robbery without due process. Whatever happen to the land of the free & home of the brave… guess it should say… home of the legal terrorist & only the brave should go there? Ok.. now NSA probably tagged me for using the word… This is worse then hunting season… at least with hunting season… the animals… have a chance to escape… tainted US persons have no chance in hell to get a fair shake without being robbed of everything they ever or will earn.
Getting so disgusted with the Canadian Government that I’m going to self-medicate with this:
Or otherwise I might go “nuclear” and go off on some unsuspecting MP in a way that he or she’d get their ears blistered off.
US_Person_Foreigner: It’s not land of the free and home of the brave anymore. It’s land of the fee and home of the naive, considering how easily most swallow the US Government’s fallacious argument that all US persons abroad are “wealthy tax cheats”.
My father-in-law, US Army (Burma) WWII would be absolutely disgusted with the actions of Obama and the US Government and he’d be absolutely shocked at what the Canadian government just did to their own.
@The_Animal
*wealthy tax cheats*
I see on alot of the boards… americans saying… yeah… make them pay… we want our fair share.. U want a share of my stuff… I am rich with pokemon cards & broken barbies… so yeah… I am just rolling with it & I will give u the broken barbies…but not the pokemon cards.. I hope they go up in value considering how much & how many I got
We have the Flaherty promise, the wording of the IGA and then we have this from that “Tax Connections” article:
@Em says
*We have the Flaherty promise*
I always thought I could rely on our gov’t to protect what’s right & fair.. those days are gone. His promise means nothing… we all have a better chance at winning the lottery then for anyone to rely on those traitors. Wait… I can’t win the frigging lottery… its tax free in canada but the US wants their legal share. I know… pay me in… what’s not taxable as income in the state…… apparently nothing..
If you read those redacted negotiation docs that Blaze got. You’ll see Jacobson’s soothing lies referenced in there about not going after Canadian grandma and other innocent folks who simply didn’t know they needed to file paperwork.
Fast forward a week later and you have Robert Stack calling us all “unhappy tax evaders” and now this crap.
Flaherty was played for a fool to benefit the banks. The U.S. can demonize us now and do with us as they damned well please. There’s NO safety net at all. And yes, if they make a mistake at the border…what recourse do you have!
What is the point of this witch hunt and data sharing at the border if 82 percent of ALL expats would not owe any taxes?? How far do they plan to take this? Co ordinating all that private info to share with a border official and the IRS? Not even someone with ANY legal back ground or any real education in such matters? All they will be going off of is what is in the computer…what if it’s wrong? This atmosphere of fear they are deliberately creating reminds me of Mao.
“This atmosphere of fear they are deliberately creating reminds me of Mao.”
Don’t worry too much about all this. Just stay out of the USA, the transnational banks and make sure you have real money (precious metals in hand) and realize that a violent revolution is just about to hit the USA in my opinion. People, when backed into a corner will roll over or come out fighting for their survival. I’m going to say this again and again not matter who here isn’t comfortable with the comparison. The Obama regime is worse than the Hitler regime. The ONLY difference is the mass killing either hasn’t started yet or it hasn’t become widely known. A possible savior for us is to get out and call every Rabbi in Canada and make them understand the similarities and wait for them to swing into action telling the Govt. “Hey, we said “”NEVER AGAIN””. I am Jewish and I’m sure there are others in Canada that were Born in the USA (hey that’s a song lol, a gingoistic one) who can easily see the comparison. It’s just such an uncomfortable subject but the comparison will be made and the community, which is the most influential wealthy and well connected in Canada will rise against it. They may not speak loudly but you can be sure that they will let the politicians in Canada know the dangers of passing this in Parliament. In my opinion the very most important thing we can do is contact every person on this list
http://www.cija.ca/about-us/our-team/
and pressure them into looking into this. I already got one response:
“Mr. ***********
Thank you for contacting CIJA. I must confess, I am not an expert on this topic. Please allow me to confer with my colleagues, make a few phone calls, and orient myself to subject. Should I learn something that may be of value to you, I will reach out. Rest assured, if we find that this will unfairly impact or single out the Jewish community, we will address it to the full extent of our abilities.
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.
Regards,
Martin Sampson, CIJA
Israel c 011-972-52-613-0458
p 613-234-8271 x 223
c 613-219-3500
@axidntlzionist
SO, if anyone comes on this thread with negative comments about the wisdom of this approach let them know I am not listening to them, know what I am doing and that they should stand down. We all contribute and that’s the beauty of this place. Furthermore, if anyone can think of another ethnic or national group that came to this country to escape oppression then a program should be undertaken to educate their leaders on why they must speak out against the USA and what Harper has done to our rights and freedoms. Remember, our forefathers fought and died for the freedoms that cheeseburger munching slovenly PM just signed away.
@cheers Big Ears…. “stay out of the USA”. I only wish I could. but i have ageing parents and several extremely close friends (family really) who cant afford to fly to London UK…. so I have no choice but to come back (now as a tourist). at the very least all I can do is pull all investments and not do any tourist stuff or shopping more than the bare minimum………………….
Wow. That taxconnections article is deeply disturbing. Although I made a clean break with the USA and the IRS (fully compliant), it really makes me never want to go there again. Unfortunately I still have some family there who I want to see every few years. It gives me the sense that entering the USA is like playing Russian roulette, even for people like me who should have absolutely no reason to worry.
crystal. at the very least move out of the banks before you go back, put 50% in physical gold somewhere safe (declare it if you want because they can’t get it anyway if you put it at the bottom of Bow Lake). If your relatives are in the USA then arrange a fun family get together in a place like this closer to them
http://www.fairmont.com/jasper/
or
http://www.ville.quebec.qc.ca/en/touristes/index.aspx
Tell them you no longer go to the USA. I’ve done this and my family totally understood. Again, look back in history, when people escaped from Nazi Germany they didn’t go back there to see relatives or for a holiday. I feel that if the USA doesn’t want us anymore then we need 5 million affected people here to extricate themselves, become invisable, stop listening to their death threats against us, don’t buy US products, don’t invest in US shares, don’t have ANYTHING to do with the letters “USA” ideally or at least reorient ourselves in that direction while staying calm and deliberate in our resolve to unseat the traitors in our government here and reestablish our independence, charter of RIGHTS (not privileges) GUARANTEED TO US AND FOR WHICH WE MUST DIE FOR IF NECESSARY. We stand on guard for thee, and we don’t mean Obama and traitorous scum in high places here. Just think, Germany is still around today many years after being rid of their traitors 80 years ago. Canada will still be here as well but like the innocent Germans we have lots of unpleasant work and suffering to do.
PLEASE PEOPLE…….LEAVE YOUR BANKS NOW. Tell your bank manager to tell the CBA to FOAD
@notamused
“It gives me the sense that entering the USA is like playing Russian roulette, even for people like me who should have absolutely no reason to worry.”
LOLOL you are FAR safer visiting Russia in fact there are far more opportunities there if you are patient and want to learn Russian.
@not amused
I too am fully compliant and was lucky to have David Ingram as my accountant who argued that I must fill out FBARS even when I cursed up and down. Nobody in N America including the IRS knew as much as he did about their own tax codes. If they saw his name on a tax return they walked away knowing things were done right in fact many learned from him.
I have no ties in the USA and don’t own anything here, no property, no kids and no family here. But I do know many many in the top echelons of Canada. I could walk out my front door and go to Timbuktu and manage well.
I count myself lucky and am only expressing opinions that I know are right and just in a world that cares for neither. Living with ourselves is the most important thing not wimping out like some of our useless lawyers here that claim they are on our side.
No one gets off this planet alive so be brave and fight the good fight for RBT and representation and for those who have relatives and close family make sure you love them and live like today is your last day. I’d like to be in your position. At least I thought I had a safe home (Canada) but now I feel like a reject and a pariah like I have leprosy or something yet have done absolutely nothing to deserve this from that shit show called the USA