Dear Supporters,
Many of you probably predicted that I would not be saying this today, but this message is not a dream: You came up with yet another $100,000 payment — now making a total of $400,000 provided to the Arvay team.
In the last twelve days you actually donated more than $40,000 — an amazing achievement for small donors. This accomplishment proves to all those people who want us to fail — that we are very determined.
You gave until it hurt and then you gave a lot more. It’s hard not to get teary-eyed over the generosity of our supporters, who have come through every time.
We know that the pace of your litigation is painfully slow, and this is unfortunately as expected. The Government will continue to do its best to slow down the process, but we now have the assistance of a case management judge to help keep the process moving more fairly.
We filed in August 2014 and it has taken a very long time (one year) before we are finally into a (summary) trial (August 4-5, 2015). We cannot predict the outcomes of this trial, based on only part of our arguments and, with your continued support, we will prepare for all possibilities.
[Happy birthday Gwen!]
Thank you for your trust,
Stephen Kish,
ADCS-ADSC Chair,— on behalf of Plaintiffs Ginny and Gwen, their families, and the ADCS-ADSC Directors
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Chers amis et donateurs,
Certains d’entre vous avaient probablement pensé que je ne pourrais pasvous annoncer une si bonne nouvelle aujourd’hui. Mais voilà : ensemble, nous avons réussi à ramasser un autre montant de 100 000 $, ce qui fait un total de 400 000 $ à remettre à l’équipe de MeArvay.
Dans les 12 derniers jours seulement, vous avez donné plus de 40 000 $, un exploit tout à fait extraordinaire pour des « petits donateurs ». À tous ceux qui souhaitent nous voir échouer, cette réussite prouve que nous sommes des plus déterminés. Et que nous réussirons.
Vous avez donné jusqu’à ce que ça fasse mal, puis vous avez donné encore. Difficile de rester insensible devant une si grande générosité.
Nous sommes bien conscients du fait que notre litige avance de façon péniblement lente. Malheureusement, tout ça est normal. Le gouvernement continue à ralentirle processus, mais on nous a maintenant attitré un juge responsable de la gestion de notre dossier qui veillera à ce que le processus progresse de façon plus juste.
En août 2014, nous avons engagé une poursuite contre le gouvernement canadien. Près d’un an plus tard, nous avons enfin la date pour notre procès sommaire : les 4 et 5 août 2015. Impossible de prévoir le dénouement de ce procès, basé uniquement sur une partie de nos arguments juridiques. Mais avec votre appui, nous serons prêts pour toutes les possibilités.
(Bonne fête, Gwen !)
Au nom de nos deux plaignantes, Ginny et Gwen, de leurs familles et des directeurs de l’ADCS-ADSC, je vous remercie de votre confiance.
Stephen Kish,
Président de l’ADCS-ADSC
Nothing in the mail today? Now I really am “fretting” along with @canoe. I know my last donation made it because of the mail tracker (not so sure about Mr. E’s though). Are any others wondering if their mailed donations are arriving safely? One thing you can do, if you send cheques, is to be sure to check your bank statements for the debits. I’m pretty much out of ideas on how to inspire people to donate. It all boils down to how much each of us wants to see our Canadian justice system land a well-placed kick on an American law which should never have crossed the border.
@NervousInvestor: I do not recall that information, but I have a vivid recollection of the letter Carl Levin wrote to wrote to IRS and US Treasury on behalf of the Senate’s Investigation Committee that demanded:
That information is on page 11 of his letter. You can find a link to the full letter at Maple Sandbox. http://maplesandbox.ca/2013/carl-levin-fatca-for-law-enforcement-national-security/
I do not know what the result was, but I am not aware of any reply from US Treasury or IRS.
When CRA officials were testifying before Parliament’s Finance Committee, one of them said our information would only be used for tax purposes because we trust our American partners (or words to that effectIReally? What about “Congress has spoken?” I had sent a copy of Levin’s letter to Finance Canada so they were very aware of it, but they signed the IGA anyway.
I had a meeting this morning about my will with my lawyer and my accountant (who is the Executor of my estate and my Power of Attorney). They told me I need trust them to respect my wishes and protect my estate from the IRS in the event of my death or if I am unable to look after my financial affairs.
I laughed and said ” Lawyers, accountants and taxes are dirty words to anyone born in the United States.” My accountant replied “You’re in Canada.” I responded “Yep. That’s what I thought until a year ago.”
They have assured me they will not file anything with the IRS. Still, I am nervous.
My will makes a donation to ADCS–but I’m not planning to die soon to make that donation.
However, today Is the first anniversary of Jim Flaherty’s death. I am making a donation to ADCS in his memory. I hope others will do the same.
We need to get this lawsuit funded! I already feel like we are living in the land of Oz:
as promised from spring cleaning finances I have made CAD 250 and donated it. still going like a wrecking ball through all my bills…. and pruning every penny to make another donation hopefully before may 1. ………
@NervousInvestor — Is this the kind of information you’re looking for? (1 item from a Google search)
http://www.acfcs.org/by-taking-certain-steps-the-irs-may-share-bank-data-it-gets-from-foreign-banks-under-fatca-with-other-us-agencies/
Well the concluding statement of that document posted by @Canoe says it all:
It confirms that U.S. Treasury, IRS and Congress think we are all a bunch of criminals.
@Blaze and @Canoe … thank you both for your efforts … I will study these tomorrow. I have just returned from spending many hours at a hospital whilst my father had surgery … he is over 90 years old. Thank God the surgery seems to have gone well and he is resting comfortably. the coming days will also be busy but I will take the time to study your information. Thank you both again.
I have posted the following in the Jamaica Observer at http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/China-blasts-Obama-comments-in-Jamaica-over-military–muscle–in-South-China-Sea_18729859
In case the comments never see the light of day I repeat them here:
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Hypocrisy is NOT a good thing. People have memories … the internet contains information that can be searched:
“Just because the Philippines or Vietnam are not as large as China doesn’t mean that they can just be elbowed aside,” Obama said.”
Wow ! and what of FATCA vs the Charters of Rights and Sovereignty of every country world wide? and what of the (obstructed) World Trade Ruling against the US in favour of Antigua … an extract from wkipedia follows (there is much more) ….
“Antigua was one of the very first nations to legalize, license, and regulate online gambling and is a primary location for incorporation of online gambling companies. Some countries, most notably the United States, argue that if a particular gambling transaction is initiated outside the country of Antigua then that transaction is governed by the laws of the country where the transaction was initiated. This argument was brought before World Trade Organization and was deemed incorrect.[13]
In 2006 the United States Congress voted to approve the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which criminalized the operations of offshore gambling operators which take wagers from American-based gamblers. This was a prima facie violation of the GATS treaty obligations enforced by the WTO, resulting in a series of rulings unfavorable to the US.”
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and this one:
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“….. Obama, during a town hall meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, warned that Beijing was “using its sheer size and muscle to force countries into subordinate positions”… ”
Rhatid. The US Administration would never do such a thing ! Noooooo ….. FATCA ? What is that ?
I was looking at a ten dollar bill this morning — a rather pretty thing with our first PM on the frontside (who is now rolling in anguish in his grave at the antics of our current PM) and with the “Canadian/Le Canadien” train winding its way through some beautiful mountain scenery on the backside. Then I got thinking about inflation (we’ve all noticed it happening I’m sure) and how little a dollar/loonie buys these days BUT ten dollars will still buy two people a light lunch at Tim Hortons, so that’s something at least. It would be lovely for me to be able to treat Ginny and Gwen to a light lunch at Tim Hortons someday but I know that right now what they really want (as do all of us) is to see the Sovereignty Thermometer start rising.
If I can see just 9 other Brocker/Sandboxer Canadians post, in this thread, that they are IN FOR TEN TOO I will put my pretty ten dollar bill in the mail today. Ten dollars may seem like a small amount, but 10 tens make a hundred and (I hope this is not just wishful thinking) 100 tens make a thousand.
This is the return address I will use for my 10-4-2 or Ten Dollars for Two Brave Plaintiffs donation:
PO Box 1042
My Town’s name, My Province’s Code
My Postal Code
This is the address I will send my 10-4-2 donation to:
ADCS
Attention: Stephen Kish
283 College Street
PO Box 67678
Toronto, ON
M5T 3M1
So is anyone else IN FOR TEN TOO?
I’ll up that by four, my usual somewhat regular contribution, EmBee!
EmBee,
Sent by interac transfer: *10-4-2* X 4 (one from each member of my family affected by this).
@ Bubblebustin
Thank you! That was fast. I just found a pretty purple envelope to put my pretty Canadian bill inside (nice match).
@EmBee,
— A 10-4-2 times four just came in by e-transfer and I have added the amount to the Sovereignty Thermometer.
Stephen
@EmBee. I have already sent a cheque for a more substantial donation this month. However, since you are scrounging around to find a little spare cash to try to make something happen RIGHT NOW…I have just squeezed out another $50. via PayPal in the hopes that we can get some momentum going with a bunch of small donations this weekend. I hope everybody reading can try to send a little something this weekend to get that thermometer moving a bit. Many small donations can add up! Give it a shot everybody!!
@ Stephen Kish
Yay for e-transfers! (I don’t even know how to do that.) Many thanks to that donor. I really wasn’t expecting these times four contributions. I just addressed the envelope, put a very pretty stamp on it and as soon as the World Synchronized Skating Championships 2015 is over on TV I’ll take it to the post office.
Thanks EmBee! After we have won the day and this is all just a bad memory, I think we all need to get together for a big feast!
@ Only a Canadian
Thank you for that donation (going above and beyond) and those encouraging words too.
@ GwEvil
Amen! We’re just trying to thank you and Ginny today. 🙂
—And, just received PayPals from Atlantic and Central Canada….
@ calgary411
You have put so many LCUs into all of this (thousands by now) and then you make this extra donation too. That’s really very touching. Thank you!
If there are some lurkers only reading today I hope you will use this little 10-4-2 idea to send something in which is guaranteed to be anonymous (note how to do the return address).
@ All
Thanks for making this a fun day and the icing on the Tim Hortons doughnut (for me at least) is that Canada just got a GOLD MEDAL in the World Synchronized Skating Championships 2015. I’m off to the post office now. The snow has stopped and the sun just came out. 🙂
— And the 10-4-2 times four Atlantic Canada supporter just became a 10-4-2 times eight!
Love those paypals! Thank you Atlantic and Central Canada supporters.
What a super idea – you’re a creative thinker in so many ways, EmBee! My husband and I will mail our 10-4-2s Monday and I bet a lot of people will and it will add up nicely!
@ pacifica777
You and calgary411 … so many LCUs sacrificed and yet you give even more. I really hope some people who read here but tend to keep their ten dollar bills in their wallet will send in something too. I love the idea of many small donations coming from people with big hearts. They do add up, don’t they. We’ve done it up to this point and we need to keep doing it.
10X5 sent in honour of MBs great idea!