An excellent new interview with John Richardson by Dave Taylor. Recorded September 3, 2014 on CHQR News Talk 770.
Both John and Dave cover the basics of FATCA, the Canadian IGA, the legal challenge, the role of ADCS and much more.
An excellent new interview with John Richardson by Dave Taylor. Recorded September 3, 2014 on CHQR News Talk 770.
Both John and Dave cover the basics of FATCA, the Canadian IGA, the legal challenge, the role of ADCS and much more.
A video from last year’s FATCA debate in the European Parliament starring our old friend Robert “Myth” Stark having the floor briefly via videolink.
However the questions seem to be skeptical as of May 2013. If someone has time it’s still interesting to watch and is indicative of the European mindset about FATCA.
This is one of the best interviews I have heard John give. The host, Dave Taylor seems to “get it” better than most and isn’t hesitant about his disdain for the actions of the American govt and for the Harper govt.
The pace of the interview makes it possible to digest what is being said, unlike the settings where one is trying to get it all down in 5 minutes.
Though we all know the subject inside and out, there’s something different about hearing the message, which has shifted over time I think, from the horror OMG stories of 3 years ago to the plain and simple reality that the US is systematically destroying the financial well-being of US Persons outside of the Homeland. It also comes across very clearly in this interview, that the people involved are not just “Americans” apart from the rest of Canadian society but people who no one would consider to be “American” in any sense of the word. Dave Taylor’s reactions are genuine and likely to influence his listeners and this is exactly the kind of coverage we need. Get the message out that this is a direct attack on Canadians and their families and on the economy of Canada. Canadians may be able to understand or care a bit more about that than the philosophical idea of sovereignty, etc.
At any rate, John does a superb job! Bravo!
John did a great job, even under the weather. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing John talk in person and I have to say that his layed back style goes far, a lot farther than I’d go talking a thousand miles any hour. Piquing their curiosity, it’s up to the listener to research further if they’re really interested.
The interview is spot on.
While John did a yeoman’s job under the circumstances, kudos to Dave Taylor as well. He layed-out the issues very nicely and gave John plenty of opportunity to fill in the blanks. All-in-all a very well done interview – a real keeper!
Another as easy as can be understood (if it can be understood) interview with John, boiling down all the complexity to something comprehensible. It can be re-wound and listened to again, including the final comments by Dave Taylor of CHQR, Calgary Talk Radio:
Thank you, John Richardson, Co-Chair of Alliance for the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty, and to Dave Taylor in Calgary. I, for one, will look forward to you following this ADCS case, Mr. Taylor!
Be part of this fight by donating to help pay for this important and costly litigation on behalf of brave plaintiffs and witnesses: http://www.adcs-adsc.ca/.
Excellent interview, John! It is good that you had this opportunity to be interviewed by a media program that reaches the man/woman on the street. This is excellent exposure for our cause.
Are you listening, CBC Calgary?
Compare this puff interview on CBC Calgary’s Homestretch radio show with compliance condor Alex Marino of Moodys Gartner.
http://www.cbc.ca/homestretch/episode/2014/04/23/renouncing-american-citizenship/
I’m a CBC fan. But compared to Dave Taylor, this is shameful.
I’ve just sent an e-mail to thank Dave Taylor for doing this interview. It’s nice to have him back on the airwaves. If John is reading here I want to thank him too for bringing as much clarity to this whole mess as is possible … and doing it with a head cold to boot.
I loved this! John Richardson was fantastic. I loved how Dave Taylor ended it off…”it’s unbelievable….”
Yes it is!…which is why no one believed us for so long!
That was fantastic. And I have been saying all along that FATCA affects far more than 1 million people in Canada. We forget the green card holders, the kids of american parents, the spouses- I too think it adds up to maybe 10% of the Canadian population and will seriously diminish the Canadian treasury. I honestly dont see how saving the banks ability to work with dollars can justify all the losses that FATCA will incur.
And as an aside- if America is worried about who will finance their armies- then they should get the whole world involved in paying for their army protection. But not a money grab from expats as the solution.
Something else that keeps getting forgotten- the penalties of 25-50% of that secret “stash” hidden overseas is one fourth to one half of everything a person with “foreign” bank accounts owns. Because they dont have a hidden account- it is a huge percentage of everything they have. If that isn’t unconstitutionally high then I dont know what is.
@Polly – FATCA for dual citizens is unconstitutional in Canada, the EU and other countries. What good is holding the bloody passport as a dual citizen if you don’t have all the same rights, privileges, and opportunities as other fellow citizens?
It’s my belief that a European Court would be more sympathetic striking down an IGA than perhaps even a Canadian court. The EU in my opinion is an opportunity to knock a FATCA leg. That would be a major setback for the US Government.
The IGAs have to be put into the position either we exchange all resident citizen’s data or none at all. Politically that would make FATCA a rather different animal to sell.
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Kudos and many many thanks John!!! Wonderful interview – – clear and thorough and accessible by the general public. We need more such interviews – – and round-table discussions, even call-in shows – – where people throughout Canada will hear the broad range situations and can raise all the questions that have left the general population somewhat unconcerned. This is not just a “US Person” issue, but effects such a broad range of individuals – – and businesses – – as well as the IGA impaling the absolute basis of our country’s equality laws. The one thing that that could have been added to this interview is that there was no mention at the end as to how the listeners could learn more about ADCS or contribute to the ADCS legal challenge.
@DON
Certainly, but I just wanted to make that point hit home. I think those uninvolved dont really “get it”- I mean how upsetting this is to people. They really have to imagine somebody coming after their life`s savings and taking 5% or 27,5% or worse- 50% of that. We keep hearing “but they dont owe any tax anyway” and I think it makes the situation seem less serious than it is- like: if they dont owe anything anyway then whats the fuss? They dont really GET IT. They think maybe “Why should a dual be so upset- all they have to do is renounce.” But for many thats not “all they have to do”. They possibly have to hand over what they have worked for and saved for a lifetime. THATS how serious this is for some. Like Mr Stark says- you only have to own a house in Toronto that has gained in value over the last 30 years and you are already a covered expat. And it isn’t your hidden swiss account that you held on the side- it is a huge chunk of all you are worth.
@Polly – If it ever got to the US attempting to extradite anyone, I think they would have significant legal hurdles to cross.
First being that if you live in a RBT country, not paying tax to a CBT country you’ve lived in generally isn’t a crime. Could someone argue that they are not breaking any laws in their RBT country by not paying the US? Usually for an extradition to go ahead the offence must be a crime in both countries. (As long as you have no financial links with the US to make it more watertight).
For example if UK citizen signs out with the HMRC, moves to the US, the UK doesn’t expect them to file a UK tax return or pay US tax on his US earnings after a full non-UK tax year has taken place.
So on the flip side, is it a crime for a US citizen living in the UK not to file with the US? The answer would seemingly be no.
I realise it’s a murky area legally, but it’s a possible argument.
@Don, with respect to the EU and referring to someone as a Citizen of the European Union, I absolutely concur.
There has been considerable developing EU case law requiring EU Citizens to be treated equally in whatever EU Country they find themsleves in. That will only help.
So if data is transmitted from a single Italian Citizen in France with clinging US Nationality, then ALL data on all EU Citizens needs to be handed over to the US.
The only dual nationality recognized in EU Law is that of your exisiting EU State and then of the EU itself.
@ Polly
“We keep hearing “but they dont owe any tax anyway” and I think it makes the situation seem less serious than it is- like: if they dont owe anything anyway then whats the fuss?”
I gave a pretty stark description of the staggering FBAR penalties to Dave Taylor in my e-mail last night. I’m afraid it was a fairly long thing so I hope he takes the time to read it and if does, “Please Sir, we wan’t more (good interviews)”. There is so much to this topic that no single brief interview can get it all out there. However John opened the door and believe me Calgary is chock full of people who need to walk through that door, get motivated and start donating to ADCS. Even though the website wasn’t mentioned, the full name was, so that should be enough to get people to the right place.
EmBee,
I sent Dave Taylor a very long email as well. I hope (and I think he will) he reads both of ours! I just had a meeting this morning with a person (who happens to be a lawyer) with an interest in Canadian sovereignty and knew *some* of the US issue. I filled him in in our hour’s meeting over coffee and he promises to read all the links I provided to him by email. I’ll see what comes of these discussions.
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@Don: Unfortunately, most U.S. extradition treaties which are not “list treaties” (explicitly listing the extraditable offences) have a clause like, “If the laws in the Requested State do not provide for the punishment of such conduct committed outside of its territory in similar circumstances, the executive authority of the Requested State, in its discretion, may grant extradition provided that all other requirements of this Treaty are met” (from the UK treaty)
Which is still better than what other countries get. E.g. in Hong Kong, the list of extraditable offences the treaty with the US includes “Offences relating to fiscal matters, taxes or duties, notwithstanding that the law of the requested Party does not impose the same kind of tax or duty or does not contain a tax, duty, or customs regulation of the same kind as the law of the requesting Party;”
@Eric – It’s my understanding the offence has to be a crime in both States. For example, extortion is legal in State A, but not in State B.
Some commits extortion in State B, travels to State A. Couldn’t that person oppose extradition on the grounds extortion is not a crime in State A?
Wouldn’t a listed treaty attack this problem the other way wrong by actually ruling in or out certain offences?
You also get into the situation that some countries refuse to extradite their own citizens such as France. In that case they’ll hold the trial in France for the foreign offence maybe?