Dear PM Trudeau: Renegotiate FATCA IGA Now
A letter was sent to Prime Minister Trudeau from ADCS requesting him to renegotiate the IGA to protect Canadian citizens, interests, sovereignty and our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
January 27, 2017
Right Hon. Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0A6
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau
RE: Renegotiate FATCA Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA)
“The Government of Canada has a responsibility to stand up for its citizens when foreign governments are encroaching on their rights. We believe that the deal reached between Canada and the U.S, is insufficient to protect affected Canadians.” (Justin Trudeau in letter to Lynne Swanson, Jun 23, 2015)
FATCA encroaches.
Liberal Statements
In Opposition, many Liberal MPs spoke strongly against American Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Among a myriad of comments in Parliament and in a newspaper article, Liberal MPs called FATCA “dangerous…an attack on our privacy…the IRS’ dirty work…infringes on our sovereignty…violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms…”
As Finance and Revenue critic, Scott Brison said “About one million Canadians are caught in this dragnet…The government did not negotiate a good deal in Washington…They failed to protect Canadian interests in terms of FATCA…The reality is you can negotiate a better IGA.”
So, we are dismayed and disappointed that the Liberal Government is failing to “stand up for (Canadian) citizens when a foreign government is encroaching on their rights” and is not protecting affected Canadian citizens and interests.
“Negotiate A Better Deal”
A new American President insisting on renegotiating NAFTA gives Canada the ideal opportunity to insist on “negotiating a better IGA.”
You can prove to all you are a Canadian leader and mean what you say — *A Canadian is A Canadian is A Canadian*. Now is the perfect time to show the value of Canada’s sovereignty as President Trump is making sweeping changes to protect United States sovereignty.
We, therefore, request you, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Global Affairs renegotiate the FATCA IGA with an amendment put forward in Opposition by Mr. Brison and NDP MP Murray Rankin:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, for all purposes related to the implementation of this Agreement, “US Person” and “Specified US Person” shall not include any person who is a Canadian citizen who is ordinarily resident in Canada.
Please “stand up for (Canadian) citizens when a foreign government is encroaching on their rights.” Please tell President Donald Trump you will protect Canadian citizens, Canadian interests, Canadian sovereignty, and Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“Negotiate a better IGA” now.
Lynne Swanson, Chair
Litigation Committee
Stephen Kish, PhD, Chair
Alliance or the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty
cc: Hon. Billl Morneau, Minister of Finance
Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Global Affairs