With the concerns of constituents filling up their inboxes and voicemail, on Monday the NDP repeated their demand that the Conservatives remove a recently-signed tax agreement with the United States from the omnibus budget bill.
Read more: http://www.ipolitics.ca/2014/05/05/get-fatca-out-of-the-budget-bill-ndp-urges/
The Cons may be nodding, but my sense is they all detest promoting the IGA. They know they are in trouble on this politically, legally and ethically.
The lawyers should be better than they are? What lawyers? They won’t even confirm they have consulted a lawyer or if they have a legal opinion. That could work to our benefit.
I made a request for information from Justice months ago. The little bit I got was even heavier redacted than what Finance provided. They have said it will be another 150 days before they will provide more information–which I expect will be even more redacted.
I was told by Finance last week I am a “repeat requester.” Since then, I submitted one more request to Finance and one to Foreign Affairs. I think that makes me a “serial requester.”
@Blaze
What time on Wednesday is your submission due by?
Speaking of eating crow, I wonder what Linda McQuaig would make of all of this – the Conservatives ‘siding’ with Obama administration on what she more or less touted as an affective way to fight offshore tax evasion.
At least the Conservatives havent tried to feed us the line that it’s all in a effort to fight offshore tax evasion, and if you don’t support it, you’re with the tax evaders – at least not yet.
@Tim: 12:00 noon. I’m scrambling on it to keep it short and to the point.
Why is it they had 15 months to negotiate an IGA, our submissions were ignored, but now I have two days to put together a comprehensive presentation limited to five minutes and a submission limited to five pages?!? The five pages is doable. The five minutes is more challenging.
@BB: Nothing would surprise me about the Cons. It was great how the NDP was able to speak out against offshore tax evasion in the questions at the news conference and speak out against FATCA at the same time.
Hopefully they’ve nipped that in the bud, Blaze.
I don’t know if this has been posted yet. Even Financial Post picked up on what the NDP is saying. NDP in the Financial Post. Now that’s topsy-turvy.
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/05/05/u-s-tax-law-puts-privacy-of-canadians-in-jeopardy-ndp-warns/
Lynne, Ok — As a (former) Conservative I too have to admit that I have a fondness for my new friend Murray Rankin — and the NDP.
Thinking back:
On September 19 2013 I asked Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the NDP, at a public meeting in Toronto to provide his position on FATCA. He could not answer the question and responded only by saying that he would have to speak to his caucus. This prompted a long time NDP supporter in the audience to exclaim loudly and passionately “But this is a matter of Canadian sovereignty!”
Later that day and that week Mulcair was inundated with emails from angry Brockers and Sandboxers, and then the NDP came up with a position on FATCA. The emails and letters never let up.
Now go forward 8 months to May 5 2014 and see Northern Star’s video above with Rankin and Cullen taking a lot of time to argue that FATCA is a bad law.
I know a lot of people were involved, but did angry Brockers and Sandboxers make a difference?
@Blaze
@Stephen Kish
Please check you email when you get a chance. I have an urgent message to the two of you and select others.
@Blaze..
I saw your tweet…
I like the Cullen quote on fATCA IGA..
I was quite shocked watching Thursday’s Finance hearing for the first time tonight B Ernewein was talking about how the US was “Committed” to reciprocity. We have to make it clear to the committee that this “commitment” for reciprocity belongs at the bottom of a kiddie litter box. Unfortionately Thursday night I was trying to relax a little bit in advance of Friday’s meeting instead of paying attention to all FATCA all the time. Big mistake on my part.
Tim
Here is the message to hit the Cons with…
No need to rush…
FATCA non delay, delay actually gives Canada FFIs until December 22 without sanction, so use the time…
@FATCA_Fallout n
@LynneBlaze @financialpost @MurrayRankin @nathancullen Good reason to delay IGA & have debate. Delay now until Dec 22 http://bit.ly/1ol0A6m
@Tim, Don’t be too upset with Stephen’s choice of dinner menu. Swiss Chalet beats eating the Crow that the Cons will soon be dining on.
@ Stephen re: “I know a lot of people were involved, but did angry Brockers and Sandboxers make a difference? ”
All the difference Stephen. Imagine if we all just sat her reading IBS, waiting for our gubermint to do something for us, and never saying boo.
ooops…our, not out.
Before I have Swiss Chalet after me for poor advertising, I like Swiss Chalet–especially their chicken and shrimp. It’s Stephen who hates it.
In any case, I need to get back to work on making my presentation short but powerful.
@NativeCanadian: Finance is trying to set it up so I can do it via video in London. Most likely place will be Fanshawe or Western. Wanna come to wherever it is?
I’ve just sent the video and all recent articles on our Facta challenge etc. to all of our local radio stations. One in particular, AM980 London, has asked to invite myself on a show anytime for an information Q&A show. Lets see where this goes.
@Blaze. I’ll take you there !! Of course I’ll be there…..
I just sent thank you e-mails to all NDP MPs and a special separate one for Murray Rankin. And just to stay on topic 😉 — I like Swiss Chalet.
@ NativeCanadian
Lovely of you to offer, in person, support to Lynne. Hope you hook up with AM980. It’s brave of you and anyone who can do this sort of thing.
@NativeCanadian: When I have more details about testifying, maybe you could let the London media know especially if I do it via video. It would be great if you could get on AM980 that day or the next day.
Also, we should let the local MPs know. They will be in Ottawa, but they should know a Londoner will testify. We should encourage them to attend in Ottawa for the entire meeting and panel and send their staff if we video in London. My prediction is Susan Truppe, Ed Holder and Joe Preston (all Cons) will ignore it and that Irene Mathyssen (NDP) will tweet it, post it on her website and send some kind of moral support in London.
@Em: Native Canadian actually offered to drive me to Ottawa (a 7-8 hour drive) as soon as he heard Rankin’s office put my name forward. For medical reasons, that trip would be really challenging for me (even if I fly to Ottawa). I think I will be my best if I do it via video from London, but if for technical reasons we aren’t able to work it out, I will do my utmost to make it to Ottawa.
@Blaze, FYI, not sure how/if this impacts your submission, but isn’t John Richardson’s info session in Ottawa is scheduled for the same day?
Thank you Stephen for reminding us of what you and others did to first get Murray Rankin’s attention and to stay on him to look into it further. He and others too have had their OMG moments and seem to have an exceptional all grasp of the situation.
The NDP could also get a lot of political mileage out here. FATCA may already be floundering, but if they are able to throw it an anchor, they’ll come our smelling like roses to all Canadians AND the banks. What an opportunity!
@Em “The banks would have that … yada-yada-yada. Whose banks are these anyway?”
Do you still have money in transnational banks and if so why? I closed my last account (TD) yesterday and I’ll take my chances with local credit unions who don’t care what the IRS wants and could easily inform their clients to stop bringing war money into Canada. In my opinion the credit union movement needs to purify itself and deal ONLY with Canadian PROVINCIALLY sourced “””INCOME””” as it is supposed to as per their mandate that forbids investing outside its Province. The US cannot withhold non arms length *gifts* to Canadians from the USA because that money is already taxed at the source and is not earned income.
@ Blaze
Sounds like the video conference will be a more comfortable solution. I actually didn’t realize what a long drive it would be to Ottawa.
@BB: I don’t know why the Libs are so silent right now. i do know that Scott Brison is doing very direct work on the proposed amendment i sent to them that was suggested by Anne Frank.
Brison seems to be taking the lead on that and Rankin and Cullen seem to be taking the lead on pulling the IGA out of the omnibus.
@All, I am indeed very proud of my Canadian friends in all this effort. Thank you!!