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
@ Duke of Devon
That is wonderful. We all owe you so much for your “cooler heads will prevail” insights.
Thanks EM I e-filed with CRA yesterday. Today there is a note on my account with ‘received’ on it and the expectation I will get a refund within 2 weeks.
Compare that with the Mercains. You file and never hear a word.. and the worriers here all think they will somehow be audited.
— PayPal 10-4-2 times five from Canadian west coast “in honour of EmBee”. I agree.
Purple is my favourite colour. I will put one in the mail on Monday.
I hope all that purple propels the red thermometer higher and over the top.
@ Stephen Kish
That’s a lovely gesture from the West Coast supporter but this is in honour of Ginny and Gwen. It’s always on my mind how much they are risking. And I know you are standing in line, if needed.
@ Blaze
You would like the envelope I popped into the mail a few hours ago. Can purple propel red? Sure hope so! You are someone else I think of when LCUs come to mind.
In our country its the 20s that are purple! But another $50 of support is now en route, in addition to the regular monthly donation. Let’s go!
@ KingOfTheRoad
I’m guessing … is that the British pound? I saw a photo and it looks purplish. Your consistent support for ADCS and now this extra boost is very appreciated. Yes indeed …”Let’s go!”
@Embee
I was thinking it would be nice to treat Ginny and Gwen to a nice dinner at the Keg maybe. So I changed your 10-4-2 to 150-4-2. (And bought a 10-4-2 ADCS lottery ticket).
@ Charl
Yes Ginny and Gwen deserve the best. I’ve only been to The Keg once in my life (about 40 years ago) and I remember the food was excellent. Your Keg level donation is a great gesture and all the time you spend educating the masses with your article comments is priceless.
@ All
I hope I helped to make yesterday (Saturdays are often slow days at Brock) a bit more interesting with Ten For Two but I really have to be more serious today. If a significant amount in donations does not come in on Monday, the ADCS fund will need $3000 per day to reach the May 1st goal. That’s asking too much of the regular donors so I would like to strongly encourage anyone who hasn’t contributed yet to send it whatever you are able to spare. It can be done anonymously and the ADCS team knows and respects how important that is to many who read here.
Go Purple for Ginny, Gwen and Sir John A.
http://maplesandbox.ca/2015/go-purple-for-ginny-and-gwen/
Other currencies, denominations, cheques and PayPal also welcome.
As EmBee says, we especially need those who have not yet contributed to get in this fight. There are many ways you can do so while remaining anonymous. Please do it now .
Good Evening All,
Has anyone ever considered doing up some sort of an e book or something that could be sold with the proceeds going to the help fund the lawsuit. This to me seems like it would be an entirely worthwhile item. We could price it at some nominal price $10 or $25 or something like that. It could be a combined effort of pooling all of the knowledge gathered so far. It would also provide those who are having their oh my goodness moment with a concise spot to start their research and I don’t think that it would undermine any of the effort that are offered by everyone here with there freemium knowledge.
Just a thought.
Cheers,
Rocky
I’ve pondered this idea too. My problems in writing it are two-fold: I don’t have the expertise to write confidently on all the issues involved, and second, I am working on an enormous project with a June/July deadline.
That said, I would volunteer my effort to work with someone who wants to put such a thing together by acting as editor–that is, working on overall organizing, and cleaning up prose to make it readable–and also assisting on the design of the actual book, for print and e-book. I have experience in both these areas (editing and book layout).
However, no way could it be whipped together before the end of the month and do a worthy job. A resource like this would be pure gold for most USCs outside the US, and would therefore be worth the effort. And proceeds could go toward the next round of payments for the lawsuit.
To recap: I don’t think I could write it, but I could do a darn good job of editing and design. Anyone up to putting together a rough draft? My only proviso is that it should not have a heavy focus on Canada alone, but be 100 percent applicable no matter where one lives.
Rocky,
It is such a good idea and someday I hope that will be done. Unfortunately, I think that all the persons working behind the scenes on many fronts just don’t have an ounce extra time or energy from what they’re working on. It would have to be some new blood to take on such a project — as wonderful as the idea is for fundraising and otherwise. It’s, though, a very good thought — thanks!
…and, Barbara, thanks for your willingness to help on such a project!
Done. 🙂
I think that people would be more willing to donate if they finally got to see some action. Its all been “promises, promises”. ( I know – I understand – but still….) The waiting game is detrimental to donations.
Another $200 donation sent. I have a spare change collecting tin that I will count today and send that too. Often another $25 or so on there. Every cent counts.
Barbara,
I agree 100% with your assessment that it should be generic so that it can be applied to everyone, but it might also be helpful to have a section dedicated to those who are in Canada (other juridictions as well) for specific information applicable to those Canadians and others who could potentially benefit.
Calgary411,
I would be willing to work some others on this. I would be willing to even start the process, but I am a little unsure as to what exactly would be required. I have a finite amount of time like everyone else, but I would be willing to help in this endeavor.
Cheers,
Rocky
Thanks, Rocky and Barbara.
You might wait to read all of the submissions that will be made to the Senate Finance Committee (and previous of other John Richardson / Stephen Kish submissions) to realize a starting point for another such huge project, the incredible amount of work and research gone into it for Canada — also check out the FATCA and other countries posts here at Brock. http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2015/04/07/video-portion-of-senate-finance-committee-submission-ready/
@Polly
“I think that people would be more willing to donate if they finally got to see some action.”
I expect to give this month at the same level I’ve given most months. That said, I should be counted as being part of the camp that is hoping to see some “action” soon. In particular the current timing is a bit awkward because of several things I currently understand (please correct me if I’m wrong on any or all of these):
1. The new Arvay filing may require an additional financial cost to the donors.
2. The new Arvay filing may not happen until after May 1.
3. The new Arvay filing is now seen as being of higher priority than the existing Arvay litigation.
Given that I–like most donors–want to be generous but have a finite budget to devote to this effort, the above points–taken together–almost suggest that we should wait until we learn more about the new Arvay filing–even if that takes us beyond May 1–before committing more funds. If the new filing is more important, does it make sense to continue to give to the existing effort? Again–resources will be given generously but are finite and any funds given to the existing effort won’t be available for the new effort if, indeed, the two efforts will work from different budgets.
@ Stephen Kish
Okay, this lack of mail seems a bit puzzling to me. Mr. E. mailed a money order the beginning of the month. Did it get there? I hope everyone sending cheques will double check their monthly bank statements. Anyway it certainly seems our paypals are pitching in and that’s a good thing.
BTW this Brock book to help people get past OMG and work out a plan for themselves is a great idea but a big challenge given the vast amount of information that’s been accumulating. John Richardson’s new series of articles is another good source (11 parts now — it keeps growing). My mind boggles at how many nooks and crannies there are.
“If I had influence over the minds of the people of Canada, any power over their intellect, I would leave them this legacy: ‘Whatever you do, adhere to the Union. We are a great country, and shall become one of the greatest in the universe if we preserve it; we shall sink into insignificance and adversity if we suffer it to be broken.'” (Sir John A. MacDonald)
Sir John A helped to make Canada one of the greatest in the universe. Preserve his legacy. Get those purple bills with his portrait in the mail. I share Embee’s concern about what has happened that there are no envelopes that may have been previously mailed but I am still mailing 4 10 4 2 2day.
There is always PayPal which I used again on Friday or electronic transfers
@ Dash1729
I have a schedule of sorts worked out for my donations. It’s not affected by what’s happening on the legal front … something I don’t pretend to comprehend (litigation is a strange new vista for me). I hope Stephen Kish will address your concerns but I’m just plugging along, doing what I can and trusting the Arvay team to do what’s best for Ginny and Gwen and therefore all of us.
@Dash
I cannot answer those questions- I can’t read 600 comments to keep up.
I`m not even Canadian.
But I am interested in the general principle of Charter Rights/Constitutional Rights.
@ Blaze and Grouchy
Physical purple notes or electronic purple notes — they all strike the right note for ADCS. Thank you both for pitching in some purple and doing so much more than that for the cause. BTW, I don’t think I’ve seen your Twitter gravatar @Grouchy lately (it’s so cute). Anyway Twitter #fatca is lit up today with good, bad and ugly IRS directed imagery. Must be an April 15th thing.
@ Dash
Please be patient.
Unlike criminal cases – where there is a mandate for fast administration of justice – litigation like this can take years. Even a minor business civil action – such as a breech of contract or wrongful dismissal – can take many months or more than a year from filing to court date.
Arvay’s assisted dying case – the “Carter Case” – was originally filed around April / June 2011 in BC. The final unanimous favorable Supreme court decision that concluded the action was in February 2015.
That’s about four years.
Time is on our side. It was secrecy and back-room dealing that enabled the FATCA legislation in Canada. The more time passes, the more harm is caused, the more daylight on this outrage: and thus more potential supporters. Like other scandals, it only gets worse with time. Those affected will be politicized. Like any other cause rooted in natural justice, opposition grows stronger over time.