Cross-posted from MapleSandbox.ca:
Green Party Promises to Repeal FATCA
At last, one of the parties has promised to repeal FATCA if elected.
The Green Party platform pledges:
We will repeal as unconstitutional the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). It essentially deprives any Canadian with US connections (even those short of dual citizenship) of full rights to privacy and treats them as a lesser Canadian.
In addition, the Green Party vows:
We will also repeal Bill C-24 which allows the minister of citizenship to revoke citizenship. Other threats to Canadians will be eliminated with the repeal of Bill C-51.
The Green Party says It’s Time to Restore Democracy. Amen.
Thanks to Tim for sending this to several of us.
I like what I see. Now if the Greens only had a chance of forming the government. At least we know Elizabeth May and the Greens are in our corner and still fighting for us.
I don’t know how we thank people like Elizabeth May with the Green Party.
“We will repeal as unconstitutional the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).”
How much better can one say it than that.
I will send this to my local Liberal and NDP candidates and hope they finally get it.
“It’s time to restore democracy. Amen.”
Thank you Calgary411.
I guess we can thank them with our votes. If the Green Party get enough votes they can at least have a voice and more influence in parliament.
@ All
You can leave a thank you to Elizabeth May and the Green Party here …
http://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-release/2015-09-08/greens-unveil-2015-platform-canada-works-together
I’m not Canadian, know near-zilch about Canadian politics. This is absolutely great news that a recognized political party has actually made FATCA a platform issue. But can it backfire? Will it cause other parties with at least a chance of winning seats to hide their heads so as not to be seen as aligning themselves with such a “radical fringe” outfit like the Greens? Same as in the USA, I doubt any presidential candidate would dare to voice support for Bopp’s FATCA lawsuit, purely because Rand Paul is involved, even if they agree with him (heck, even Rand Paul never mentions it publicly).
I hope that my Canadian friends here can capitalize on this, however, by rubbing it in the faces of their local candidates and say, “See? This is an issue of national importance. You can’t stuff it back inside the box now. State your stance now, so a million Canadians infected with US tumors know which way to vote!”
The angle here is US “imperialism”, invasiveness, and misguided persecution of middle-class US persons who reside in other countries, plus intimidation of other countries’ banks, plus compliance costs, plus absence of potential reciprocity.
The danger is being lumped in with unsympathetic wealthy US tax evaders who come to hide their money (in places like Canada and Belgium, ha, ha). Hopefully no political party will say this, because even if untrue, it will do damage.
It’s wonderful that one political party has put this on their platform.
In the US the Bopp lawsuit will not attract much sympathy, unfortunately.
This is good news for lots of reasons;
1. It can be used to challenge political parties in Canada directly.
But around the world its useful as well;
2. I am now going to be sending it to my national and EU Green Party representatives challenging them to adopt it.
3. I will be sending it to like standing left of center parties nationally and in the EU body challenging them to adopt it.
—-
This is all drip drip drip…….eventually the wash cloth gets soaking wet with water.
Another tool for all of us to use in our own unique ways….
Bravo to all who kept this at the front of Canadas Greens!!!
Send this to the NDP. A vote for Green, except for May is a wasted vote. After the NDP brings in proportional representation, then you can vote Green.
That’s good the first political party.
In other news, Lloyds Bank reports major theft of customer’s data.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/bank-accounts/11855616/Lloyds-Premier-bank-account-holders-financial-details-stolen.html
How long before FATCA data is stolen? All anyone will get from the US Government at most is’ ssssorrry.’
@Don, “All anyone will get from the US Government at most is’ ssssorrry.’”
There will never be a sorry from Uncle Same, never.
They will pass the buck to the FOREIGN Bank run by FOREIGNERS and supervised by a FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.
In the Bopp court hearing DOJ accepted zero responsability for account closures, they passed the blame……
It would be great if the Greens were part of a Canadian minority government. There is a lot in their Platform to get the old values, including the importance of Canadian sovereignty, back!
Thanks, Elizabeth May and the Green Party.
@Calgary…..I think when any party is in office for around ten years or two terms, they are past the sell by date and need to be replaced.
Off topic…..this wait for the Canadian Court is getting toooooooo looooooong…….I keep hoping of checking IBS and seeing a flash headline.
I am terrified to express my confidence but I feel good about the Canadian Court case. I am happy for the US case but I think the system there is too far gone…..but thats why I left which you know well.
I would be so thrilled to check IBS at midnight this Friday and see a flash headline…
@Don…..have you noticed the different line of questioning in new account openings in our neck of the woods?
Remember the old savings and loans in the US that focused solely on local mortgage lending? Thats kind of like the carve out for credit unions and building societies. It would be pretty hard to whack them with a thirty percent penalty because they have zero USA exposure.
Agree, agree, George — both the smelly *past expiration date* of this Canadian government and our very long (though really short) and stressful wait for Justice Martineau’s decision.
@George – There were some carve outs in the UK IGA. For example, I think ISAs were exempt. However, it doesn’t mean the banks will ignore reporting ISAs. For example, it’s been written in the Telegraph (I believe) how ‘US persons” have been refused account at the NS&I including those new bonds for OAPs.
Refusing those bonds to ‘US Persons’ who are UK residents is in effect denying them a tax break available to everyone else who qualifies.
An IBS style lawsuit needs to be launched in the UK. At least some experience of this issue is being gained in Canada and the tactics governments are using to keep FATCA.
Also an effort to go after the banks will probably need to be undertaken since UK banks have effectively made everyone sign away their Data Protection Rights. (see – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/bank-accounts/11200683/Your-bank-can-give-your-details-to-foreign-governments-you-agreed-to-it.html). This was done by stealth by the way.
Doesn’t get more official than that. Sent with “Greens not thrilled about FATCA IGA” to all concerned parties in my riding. Thank you Elizabeth May and Green Party.
Are the NDP and Liberal’s still getting campaign strategy advice from Obama campaign strategists?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-liberals-using-grassroots-mobilization-tactics-from-obama-campaigns/article22216447/
I tried to thank E.M. and the Greens on their blog but nothing gets posted. Has anyone else been trying too? The “repeals” paragraph in their platform (Greens are first to publish a platform) deserves recognition and appreciation.
I signed with a message at http://www.sgigreenparty.ca/ and my comment shows there.
*************
Thank you for signing this petition about the importance of having Elizabeth participate in ALL debates the Leaders’ Debates.
We would like to encourage supporters to write directly to the Globe and Mail and Munk. Ask them to include Elizabeth in these debates. If you have Facebook and / or Twitter, please like or tweet and post.
They need to hear from interested Canadians that this is important to our democracy.
Also, please forward this email on to others who may want to sign.
Saanich-Gulf Islands Greens
http://www.sgigreenparty.ca/
@EmBee – I too posted a Thank You to the Greens … but the comments must be trapped in Moderation purgatory.
@ nervousinvestor
Thanks for the reassurance that it isn’t just me. They would like my comment if they posted it. I may go the e-mail route next. I really do want to thank them.
Three thousand cheers for EM and the Greens!
I’m not that excited about the Green’s promise to “repeal FATCA”. FATCA can only be repealed in Mordor, by Sauron and his henchmen. This promise makes the Greens seem sloppy about checking their public statements. Are they sloppy about checking other material? Harpo will probably be chomping at the bit to ridicule them.
I’m sure that they meant to promise to repeal the Canada-US IGA enabling FATCA legislation. They should say that. Promising to change the laws of another country makes the party lose credibility. Even Sauron didn’t promise to change the laws of another jurisdiction – he just went ahead and did it!
“How long before FATCA data is stolen? All anyone will get from the US Government at most is’ ssssorrry.’”
No such thing. The US Department of Justice told a court that the DOJ did the right thing by making public an unredacted tax return including social security number. Of course the IRS did the right thing by providing it to the DOJ (they need to provide more stuff too which they haven’t), but the DOJ is the one who provided it to the public. The DOJ says they did the right thing, no need for a sorry.
@ Queenston
Yes, it’s true about the wording but the intent is still good. Perhaps they should have said repeal Part 5 of Bill C-31 (2014) or repeal the FATCA IGA implementation legislation or maybe, more simply, reject FATCA. We want FATCA to be gone, gone, gone and we share that vision with the Green Party. Anyway, I don’t think they will lose credibility over some less than precise planks in their platform.
@EmBee “Perhaps they should have said repeal Part 5 of Bill C-31 (2014) ”
I agree with your underlying ethos, they could have been hyper technically correct in their words and………..most of Canada would have said duh…………..
So I am glad they used FATCA and thats a reminder to us on how we need to explain ourselves!!!
Repeal unconstitutional FATCA in Canada!!!