I’ve said it. Others have said it. We admit in the past supporting the Conservative government with our vote and, in some cases, with our donations. Now? We cannot vote for a party which fails to fulfill what is arguably the number one mandate of any government: to provide protection for the citizens of Canada. This government plans to hand over the financial information of loyal Canadian citizens to the IRS, a criminal branch of the foreign government laying in wait at our Southern border. This treachery will not go unpunished. Consider the following comment:
I know that we can’t expect any help from our Conservative government, but I am feeling a bit better today. I am a Canadian business owner with an accidental American spouse. I have always supported the Conservatives, occasionally with donations. I made a pledge a while back, after a phone solicitation, but did not send it in. A representative from the party called me to ask where my donation was, and I happily told her she wasn’t getting one, not now , or ever for that matter. She asked why and I told her it was because of the government`s position on FATCA. I had to spell it for her, but she assured me she would pass the info on.
Please make more comments like this. Please comment especially if you were voting conservative and now will refuse to do so. My wife is a business owner. But next election night, I am going to take Mrs. Petros out to dinner, buy her flowers, go to a movie, and thus completely distract her. So for every one former Tory voter who is a so-called US citizen, whose the government plans to commit extraordinary rendition of their bank account information, the Tory government will likely lose at least two votes.
No Tory vote from me or donations either after all this. I’m not really keen on the Grits either so I there is NDP and Green. I’m impressed by Eliz May. I hope she does well next election.
I think that the last election results makes the Tories feel slightly invincible: in the popular vote the Tories had 39%; NDP 30.6; Liberals, 18.9.
With the two parties to the left splitting the vote, the Tories will have to experience considerable attrition to lose.
@Ann, any chance you can distract other Tory voters while you’re at it? The last bi-election we forgot to vote. I know that I don’t have to do much to keep Mrs. Petros away. In fact, I think I’ll invite her parents over too.
I am voting ABC. I never voted PC. I am left leaning all my life. Charlie Angus does make the NDP look good since that April 8th speech he made in Parliament. People should vote strategically in their ridings. I would like to see a minority government, with no PC part of it. Harper has made the PC toast.
I know people who were PC and no longer are.
I think, in a nutshell, we are not winning this fight. We are trusting politicians to do the right, lawful, moral thing here and tell the USA to get lost. Of all the politicians we have all written, only a handful seem to care about Canadians and our sovereignty and human rights. Those politicians are in “opposition” parties to the one in power. The one in power, the Conservatives, are the scoundrels. More action and awareness is what we need. Unless we can achieve this, they will continue on their path of destruction. For all we know, Jim Flaherty was the first death caused by the stress of Fatca. I honestly believe it was….
My comment to Michele K
I trust you didn’t vote for Harper, because he’s the last guy who would stand up for your rights against the US – and true to form, he hasn’t.
is buried in comments at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/how-the-us-pulled-off-the-great-canadian-privacy-giveaway/article17916327/comments/ (where I just had to place another comment).
Canadians who care about the SOVEREIGNTY of this country, not only but including those deemed *US Persons in Canada* must stand up and make sure this happens — vote out the Conservatives who put little value on the SOVEREIGNTY of Canada, and show their lack of value for one whole lot of their fellow Canadians’ rights.
I am a business owner who, along with my husband, has ALWAYS voted Conservative even though almost all of our family members on both sides always vote liberal. You could say we were die hard born to be Conservatives.
We will no longer be Conservative voters. I can’t imagine any party could have betrayed us more than the Conservatives have.
Thanks to the Conservatives my husband will have to figure out how to get out of his accidental US citizenship at a high cost to us so that he can be free to become President of his small private company owned by Canadians only.
There is a new glass ceiling. If you have US heritage and you live in Canada your upward mobility will be seriously limited unless you can rid yourself of your US ties.
If people like Schumer weren’t threatening to ban people who renounced US citizenship from entering the US the decision would be easier. It’s a catch 22. We have to be rid of his US citizenship before the current President of his company decides to retire but my husband also can’t be on the banned from entering the US list since he will need to travel to the US on business.
What Atticus said: I don’t vote left or right, I vote right and wrong (or something like that).
I don’t see how anyone effected by FATCA could ever vote for the Conservative Party again.
NativeCanadian
Again, I tend to agree with you. If only ALL CANADIANS knew!
I have a problem in deciding where my vote will go. I am fiscally far, far right, socially middle to right of the political spectrum. There’s no way I can vote NDP, much as many of the politicians are good people (Angus, Mulcair). There’s not a chance in hell I’d contribute to the Boy Wonder of the Hair becoming PM. Elizabeth May is great on this topic, but I don’t know about the rest of the party’s policies.
I don’t think I can throw out all of my beliefs because of one decision the government made with a gun to it’s head. That would be like my husband divorcing me for filing an 8854. Perhaps I will just not vote.
I have been a loyal Conservative my whole political life. Living in Quebec and being a Conservative has not easy, but I was proud. But I will NEVER EVER vote Conservative again. My two kids were born in the USA . They were 1 and 3 years old when I moved back to Canada. They are teenagers now living in Canada (and Canadian citizens). They will enter the workforce one day. I feel totally betrayed by the Conservatives.
My hunch tells me that most Dual Citizens are more on the Conservative side. They just alienated all those voters. The Alberta/Sask Oil and Gas industry is full of Dual Citizens and Americans. Why the heck would you do that to them? Why would you make them second class citizens?
My voting options are limited but NDP here I come.
Thank you Conservatives for making us decades long Canadian citizens feel like foreigners in our own country!
I used to say paying high taxes in Canada was worth it because of how civilized our society was and that Canada always stood for the right things. Harper just destroyed what Canada stood for. He gave up Canadian sovereignty without a single shot being fired. I bet Putin envies Obama.
For those not following this thread, this is what the Obamanator is doing to Putin.
http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2014/03/31/u-s-may-refuse-to-sign-an-agreement-with-russia-on-fatca/comment-page-2/#comment-1416645
Harper has been fortunate to date that the Liberals have had such awful leadership. I might probably have voted PC in 2011 had I been naturalized in time. Prince Charming may prove more of a challenge to him, I don’t know.
What I know is that the more I look into his past, the more Harper seems to be the most pro-American–no, the most American(ized) leader Canada has seen. This explains not only some of his past rhetoric but also why he governs in a style that more befits the adversarial system to the south instead of parliamentary convention. It also explains his ‘meh’ attitude towards sovereignty vis a vis the south.
I am not confident the other parties wouldn’t have also caved in to Washington, but no matter. The Tories were the ones that signed the IGA. I can’t support them next time. I didn’t migrate here just to see the country turned into the 51st state sans representation in Washington.
I’ve never voted conservative in my life so won’t have to with hold a vote from them. However,I know people who have and who are affected by this. I also already know people who have said FATCA is the reason they won’t vote for cons ever again. The more Canadians hear about this who aren’t even directly impacted the more I’m hearing that they have no intention of voting for the party that did this.
I hope the Russians don’t sign and this leads to a different monetary system with the BRIC countries.
Harper hates the Democrats. He is a Bush boy, believes in the Straussian teachings like the Bush boys, Cheney believe in. Remember the Bush family did all they could to help Germany during WWII. and were involved in an attempted coup on the American president. They are of the elite … Strauss believes the elite should only rule. and it is okay to lie to the people. The Noble Lie.
We are fighting very big power.
I am on the bandwagon with friends old and young alike to avoid the Conservative vote next election. Funny enough I don’t have to do too much convincing because of all the scandalous behavior the Harper government has exhibited in these last few months. It’s a sinking ship!
The question is not deciding whether to vote conservative. The question is how to most effectively vote non-conservative. In my (generally conservative) circle of voters all of the former staunch Conservative supporters are so pissed off at the current government that there is no way the cons will get those votes in the next election or possibly ever. I don’t know any one who would vote for them.
FATCA is by no means the only issue that’s got people riled up. Many of my friends with no US issues at all are mad at them as well. These guys need to spend some time in opposition in order to reflect on how and where they fell off the rails.
I believe the best Harper can do next time is a minority government. Hopefully the result will be worse that that. I will spend my time, energy, and money making sure they lose and I used to be a card carrying member. My own MP is useless and has been missing in action on just about everything. So that’s where I will start; making sure his career is over. Beyond that, there is much that can change between now and then but I’m sure as hell thinking about it. Not a very appetizing menu, is it?
I’ve never voted Conservative. My family are longstanding Liberals, I became a young Liberal at the age of 16,and then never voted for either major party since leaving home in my late teens. I have tended to vote Green and it ain’t easy being green. I don’t believe in Party Politics, which is in itself a recipe for corruption, whoever rises to the top is paid off by major corporations and Bilderbergs. Democracy is a sham, politicians decide our future in secret meetings and we are excluded from the conversation. The system needs a rehaul
Johnny Cash-Farmers Almanac
It now appears that no matter who gains power through elections we are not represented. The election process is now a cover for those who adhere to the UN agenda and the globalists are elected. It is all a sham.
From Mayors to Parliament, money from elsewhere goes a long way toward the election of these people whose loyalties lie anywhere but with the people.
When did this happen? Just when were we all betrayed? WHO can we trust to do the bidding of the people?
Conservative for years and years we are no longer, nor will we ever be again. WHO do we vote for? WHO is really operating in our best interests?
How do we determine that and assure that our vote goes to people dedicated to that aim above all else? Everywhere we see the Agenda 21 being implemented in cities large and small. We watch our politicians march to the G8 and the G20 and come home with instructions that are contrary to our sovereign best interests. Most of it has been glossed over before now. The protesters seen mostly as wing nuts.
Now we know why. The thing about FATCA and GATCA and the OECD is that for the first targets it is felt and it is known for what it is. The rest of the country and the world is going to find out as we have just exactly what is intended for all of us.
My family is a mix of Conservative & liberals… Leaning more Conservative…. I will use a something I saw on this site… ABC… anyone but conservative… my family will no longer contribute one loon to them… In 2 generations in my family… we are a mix of dual and gc holders…. and because of this… our next generation has quite a few children who are dual… The duals & the gc family were so proud of the US connection… now its a a dirt secret. Some of the family members are divesting themselves of anything American including citizenship & investments… because of business, career, or deep hate of the US which we never had before… We have cursed our next generation with this toxic connection… How can we plan properly for their future until they get rid of their taint… How can we make sure our 2 generations don’t end up poor, unable to grow our futures, or stuck in our careers because of this toxic connection? Not sure who I will vote for… I just know whom I will never vote for again
@NativeCanadian
We may not win the fight.. but we will go down swinging & making as much noise as was we can for the next generation… I never thought at my age… never thought I would use those words… my own canadian gov’t would become part of the US gov’t… Shame on the canadian gov’t for hiding this fact in a bill that is as thick as a US NR tax return
ABC (Anybody But Cons) for me — forever. I’ve always voted on issues and the FATCA sell-out issue is the biggest, baddest issue I’ve ever based my vote on. This time it’s personal. The Cons get a FAIL on other issues too. What is even more concerning to me than Harper’s neo-con American penchant is his obeisance to Israel, an extremely dangerous and deceptive little country. Furthermore, I’m convinced Harper is a globalist and he has no sincere concern for “the little guy”.
FuriousAC and Disgusted, thanks for your comments.
Yes,
How many formerly loyal Conservatve MPs will now abandon the Harper party?
(Cross post from Maple Sandbox)
Shovel on April 10, 2014 at 11:21 pm said:
The Apr. 8 votes cast by one Independent on C31 have gone unnoticed, but I think these votes are telling of what a lot of Conservative MPs would like to do.
Brent Rathgeber, MP for Edmonton-St. Albert, was elected as a Conservative. But he left to sit as an Independent. When constituents first approached him about FATCA, he circulated emails saying he was “pleased” that Canada had signed the IGA.
Lobbying and sending him educational materials followed, and wonder of wonders, he voted “No” to C31. http://openparliament.ca/votes/41-2/99/
C31 is an omnibus bill, so he may have had other objections. However, I can’t help but believe FATCA & the IGA played a large role in his decision, because he voted “Yes” to the opposition’s proposed amendment!!! http://openparliament.ca/votes/41-2/98/
One Sandbox reply:
Blaze on April 11, 2014 at 4:25 am said:
“I fear we have morphed into what we once mocked…I must now stand alone.” (Brent Rathgeber)
Good work, Shovel. One person at a time; one foot in front of the other. Brent Rathgeber, a former Conservative who used his own vote with his feet (I’m out of here): the integrity lacking in those who bow for the Party Vote.