[We now have a NEW POST taking us up to February 1, 2015. This post will be retired from service.]
THE AUTUMN 2014 UPDATE
Dear Donors,
Together, we reached our goal of $100,000 to pay the November 1 legal bill 11 days ahead of schedule!
Thank you Canadian donors from coast to coast and our friends from around the world for your generosity, support and determination — and especially for not being afraid.
The name of our non-profit corporation is the “Alliance for the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty.”
We were very deliberate in including in our name the word “sovereignty”, which forms a cornerstone of our Claims against the Government of Canada.
Canada and dozens of other countries throughout the world gave into a bully because their “leaders” were afraid of harm caused by a trading “partner” — and they gave their sovereignties away.
Help us convince by example the Leaders and Governments of all countries worldwide that they should return their sovereignties back to their Peoples.
Please continue to support our lawsuit.
“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” (Helen Keller)
— Plaintiffs Ginny and Gwen, and the ADCS-ADSC team
Chers donateurs,
Ensemble, nous avons atteint notre but d’amasser 100 000 $ pour payer notre facture légale du 1er novembre 11 jours d’avance !
Un gros merci à vous, donateurs canadiens, et à nos amis de tous les coins du monde pour votre grande générosité, soutien et détermination. Et surtout pour votre courage.
Le nom de notre organisme sans but lucratif est « l’Alliance pour la défense de la souveraineté canadienne ».
Nous avons choisi délibérément le mot « souveraineté » puisqu’il constitue la base fondamentale de nos revendications envers le gouvernement du Canada.
Le Canada et des dizaines d’autres pays se sont pliés devant l’intimidation des États-Unis parce que leurs « leaders » ont eu peur des menaces de notre « partenaire » commercial. Ils ont donc vendu leur souveraineté à rabais.
Aidez-nous à convaincre les dirigeants et les gouvernements de tous ces pays qu’ils se doivent de remettre leur souveraineté à leurs peuples.
S’il vous plaît, continuez à soutenir notre cause.
« Seuls, nous pouvons faire si peu. Ensemble, nous pouvons faire beaucoup. » (Helen Keller)
— Ginny, Gwen et toute l’équipe de l’ADCS-ADSC
DONATE to www.adcs-adsc.ca (ADSC en français).
I am hopping mad today! The Christian Science Monitor ran an article entitled “Does Renouncing US Citizenship Really Save Money?” The article was lousy! I then realized that the article was actually a blog from NerdWallet written by Tony Armstrong and repeated by the Christian Science Monitor. You could not comment at the Christian Science Monitor, but the NerdWallet was open to comments. I posted my comment stating that I didn’t believe that the writer had NOT done due diligence when writing the article as he failed to mention the costs associate with becoming compliant. I was polite about it. My comment but was removed later.
Thanks Ann#1
Here’s the link:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2014/1001/Does-renouncing-US-citizenship-really-save-money
ON THE SUBJECT OF KIDS BORN ABROAD relative to the U.S. (which was being discussed several postings ago)
If anyone knows what a non-US kid (born to Americans) who is between the ages of 18 and 18 1/2 is supposed to do, let me know. Calgary411 said she thought there was something, but she didn’t know what.
Basically, my univ.-age kids born in Canada to American parents are going by the following advice from the renounceuscitizenship site (this is the bottom of the post at http://renounceuscitizenship.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/cook-v-tait-10-those-born-outside-the-us-are-not-automatically-us-citizens/
“So …. If you were born outside the U.S. and have never considered yourself to be a U.S. citizen, you should take no affirmative steps to confirm (or not) U.S. citizenship until this issue has been resolved with certainty. You should NOT apply for a U.S. passport, file U.S. taxes, obtain a U.S. Social Security Number, or do anything that could be construed as evidence that you believed you are a U.S. citizen.
Lie low!”
Jan,
Here is reference from Phil Hodgen on children with wealth renouncing between age 18 and 18-1/2 years of age, wealth usually from a trust set up for them. http://hodgen.com/expatriation-between-age-18-and-18-12/. (Would not have applied to my children and at those ages, I had no idea of any of this!)
Following the advice from renounceuscitizenship is sound / ALWAYS should be Step #1. A decision will have to be made at some point, usually better earlier than later if the decision is to renounce rather than remain a US citizen — before any “wealth” is accumulated.
Your kids’ passports will not show a US birthplace however they decide to use that fact. Be aware that a ‘long-form’ birth certificate will show their parents’ places of birth should they ever be required to use that. There is a ‘short form’ in Alberta (and maybe all provinces?). Hopefully, they will still / always be able to open new Canadian bank accounts with id of a driver’s license. Passport advice / Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/government/short-form-or-long-form-birth-certificate-needed-passport-application.
Here is the advice I got from US Department of State, Legal: http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2014/06/01/its-time/comment-page-72/#comment-3097016
Support / continue to support the Canadian litigation: http://www.adcs-adsc.ca/.
I stand by my earlier comment. They may be entitled to us citizenship but if they do nothing to claim it then there is no problem. Just finished talking to a friend born in Canada to an American mother. I asked him if he ever considered claiming us citizenship. He said no he had not and as far as he was concerned, that was the end of story.
First they came for the US-born citizens…
Martin Niemöller’s Famous Poem:
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Things will get worse before they get better. USA citizenship laws are not the problem, CBT and the IGA are the problem. However, there are numerous African banks without FATCA GIIN’s and they can forgo using US investments and US banks. Without the FATCA compliance costs, these non-FATCA banks will get more business by offering better rates. Investors can invest in a FATCA-compliant mutual fund investing in USA companies or a non-FATCA mutual fund that does not. USA will feel the pinch.
I think people are afraid of IRS but I think very few are afraid to donate to the lawsuit.
One big regret I have is that money I am putting toward this lawsuit is money unavailable for Medicins sans Frontieres and other groups working to help Ebola victims in Africa.
NorthernShrike. Our regular donations to other things that are important to us, including volunteer time, is indeed impacted. The sooner we can get back to being ‘regular people’ better able to give back to the societies we live in, the better. First we need to fight for what is right so we can do that.
Your donation for Medicins sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders would also help this Canadian/American journalist for NBC News — http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ashoka-mukpo-s-brother-worried-he-s-alone-in-liberia-with-ebola-1.2787244. (Another one of those FATCATs, I’m sure. His brother said he wanted to help the people in Liberia.) I hope he recovers and your donation to ADCS-ADSC will help him in ways he might not yet know about.
@ Northern Shrike,
It’s strange, and insidious, how the US has impacted our lives, and in a cascading effect negatively impacted on others to whom we once donated our time and money. And it’s very disturbing.
NorthernShrike, Calgary, Pacifica: FATCA and CBT have certainly diverted our lives’ focus, our energies and our charity in directions into which it should never have had to go. Our lives’ priority has irrevocably changed until the US wakes up and changes its law (abandons CBT/FATCA) and/or has it changed for them (the success of our lawsuit and/or our UN Human Rights Complaint). In the meantime, sad as it is, other worthy and critical causes will have to take a back seat. In case anyone in the US is reading this, this includes donating to relief efforts if another hurricane Katrina should come to pass. You guys are on your own next time.
It’s all a big waste of resources. The Canadian government using our tax dollars in an effort to generate revenue for another country, when that country won’t ever recover the costs of what it is they are forcing our government to implement. Does anyone really think that taxing its citizens abroad is a revenue generator for the US? All the revenue FATCA itself will generate through its citizens abroad will be at the front end. This will not be the gift that keeps on giving, as we will all either a) make good on our taxes and renounce, b) not make good on our taxes, renounce and stay out of harms way, c) go underground, d) become compliant, remain USC’s but minimize our tax exposure, e) move to the US.
Stephen, I seem to remember that some time ago you mentioned that a donor had promised to donate 1% of each fee tranche just before the due date for that tranche. LOL … Forgive me for being so presumptuous (facety in Jamaican Patois) to remind you to keep in touch with the said donor … we are getting close to Tranche 1.
I will try to do a donation sometime next week (if medical matters permit me) – I will try hard to do at least 1/2% of this tranche. Even though I am not a US Person I value privacy and freedom. I love what Canada stands for even though the Harper Government is behaving so abominably. I also love what the US was intended to stand for even though the US Government is behaving so awfully.
@Ann#1
I put a link to the Nerdwallet rticle that the CSM article you posted came from. You can comment there, but they don’t appear to be publishing them,
http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/media-and-blog-articles-open-for-comments/comment-page-58/#comment-3251551
@calgary411, Thanks for your input. It doesn’t apply to our kids because they have no wealth. They are full-time students who don’t own a car or anything else of value. At least they are on track to graduate debt-free (without loans to pay off). So I guess they should just continue to lie low. We hope that the lawsuit here at ADCS will enable Canadian-born-and-raised citizens–like my kids and your son–to be free of IRS filing obligations.
A question. About 4 years ago I obtained a nexus card. When I was interviewed I was asked if I viewed myself as US or Canadian so they could issue the card accordingly. .I said Canadian since I live in Canada and have chosen to be a citizen. They issued it to me as a Canadian. So would that be a witnessed expatriating act?
@NervousInvestor, thank you for your kind donations.
Yes I do remember a donor making a commitment to be a “one percenter”, but I just can’t remember the name of of the donor.
I agree that we somehow have to try to distinguish between what both Canada and the United States were meant to “stand for” and what their leaders have allowed the countries to become.
Re being issued a Nexus card as a Canadian citizen, not likely, Momof2.
But, someone else here might see better that it could and give their view.
@BubbleBustin
I just posted this comment over at nerdwallet … but they dont seem to be publishing comments:
http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/finance/current-events/renouncing-citizenship-save-money/
“Very poor journalism. No research done to determine what exactly the trend is and why most people are renouncing. The propaganda statements linking this trend to wealthy persons is also disingenuous in the extreme.The author either should lose his job or be employed as a political hack writer.”
Momof2, Calgary: I think it’s really interesting that the issuing officer of the Nexus card simply asked how you viewed yourself and would issue the card accordingly. So many people have been hit with: “You were born in the States so you’re an American. Come back next time with a US passport.” Many of us fell for it to our now eternal sorrow.
If your Nexus card, issued under your Canadian citizenship, is not, of itself, a relinquishing act I would suggest that it is strong evidence in your favour that you are a Canadian and only a Canadian.
N.B. This is just a lay person’s opinion.
re kids born to US parents: an interesting but true anecdote. A Canadian couple temporarily working in NY City trying to wangle (and time) parental leave so as to ensure that their child is NOT born in the US and saddled with a lifetime of grief on that score. It is actually pretty hard to manage given difficulty in travelling by air in late pregnancy as well as the annoying propensity of children to defy doctors’ predictions of due dates! Imagine a homelander trying to wrap their narrow world view of “everyone wants to be American” around that story. The word is getting out around the world it seems and the only ones who don’t know about it are homelanders themselves. Sad.
@AnneFrank,
Trying telling that to the ‘Tommy Hunter’ types. They will put their fingers in their ears, and rattle on about how USA needs FATCA to catch the bad US expat tax cheats that have not been paying their fair share. Seriously, you have to wonder about that mindset. No one could possibly be that stupid when presented with evidence to the contrary over and over again. Tommy Hunter must have some agenda regarding FATCA (compliance condor, paid government troll, etc). Either that or he just enjoys seeing other people suffer and really does not like what is best for America (as we all know that blowback is a bitch).
I hope Tom Hunter doesn’t go by “Tommy Hunter” — an insult to Canada’s.
That is an amazing letter posted by @Yazz http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/fatca/comment-page-117/#comment-3255980
Many of the principles Yazz cites are not only relevant to France are also the same as those at issue here in Canada, and elsewhere. Thank you to Yazz, and to Stephen for highlighting it here on this thread. I have bookmarked it (along with so many other insights from those here at IBS).