Author Archives: pacifica777

N.B.: This raises some very good points, but note that the IGA, as written, does not require proof of parents’ birthplace or citizenship.

Thanks to TomOn for writing the following post:

Theresa Tedesco writes for the Financial Post. Her column titled “Ottawa Had Little Choice in Signing Controversial Deal with US Taxman” appeared Friday, February 7, 2014 [and in the print edition as “US Tax Deal:  The New Reality” on Saturday, February 8th.]  It begins,

“On Canada Day and thereafter, Canadians or anyone else living in this country who walk into a bank to open up an account, invest in a mutual fund or buy life insurance will be required to prove that they are not American.”

Imagine the new reality.

(1) You show the bank a certificate of loss of nationality (CLN), or you tell them a story explaining why you are not American.

You pass if the bank accepts your CLN or story, but what if the bank doesn’t accept your story? The Canada/U.S. intergovernmental agreement (IGA) fails to say how your conflict with the bank will be resolved. Your financial Continue reading →

I just created a new page of links to articles to facilitate our SWAT (Straight Words and Truth) Team in finding current media and blog articles that are open for commenting.   Thanks to Em for the suggestion.

When you come across such an article, you can mention in the permanent page’s thread — or simply on any thread, as we’ve been doing all along, and I’ll copy the link to the permanent page.

You can locate this page in the Sidebar under the Take Action! header

Thanks to Badger and Hijacked for posting this news. 

This tax information session for Canadians considered to be “US persons” hosted by Alex Atamanenko, MP for British Columbia Southern Interior, will take place Tuesday 11 Feb 7 – 9 pm at the Fireside Conference Centre, 1810, 8^th Avenue, Castlegar.    Speakers include two lawyers, a CPA and a financial advisor.

For more info, see  http://www.castlegarnews.com/news/241985751.html

Also see Hijacked’s comment 

And Badger’s comment, which has some other links regarding Mr. Atamanenko’s opposition to FATCA in it, which dates back to at least 2011.

Thanks, Badger,  for posting the NDP press release issued today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2013
CANADIANS DESERVE ANSWERS ON FATCA

OTTAWA – Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty must address growing public anxiety about the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and secret negotiations over an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the implementation of FATCA in Canada.

“A complete lack of transparency, communication and consultation on the part of the Conservatives has exacerbated fears among those who have serious concerns about FATCA,” said NDP pensions critic Murray Rankin (Victoria). “Negotiations are being held behind closed doors while Canadians remain in the dark as to the integrity of their personal banking information.”

Reports suggest that if implemented, an IGA may require Canadian banks, Continue reading →

Debate takes place 18 November, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Don Mills United Church, 126 O’Connor Drive, Toronto.

Read more about it on Brock …  All-Candidates Debate on FATCA Toronto Centre November 18 

Toronto Centre Greens Reply to Protest and CBA Letter E-mails

Five Toronto Centre Candidates Invited to our November 13-14 Protest

#TorCen candidate @CAFreeland writes on global citizenship

and at the Toronto Centre Debates website …  http://torontocentredebates.wordpress.com/

AJ wrote this in response to a post created yesterday by Swiss Pinoy.  Swiss Pinoy’s post, “Stated in honor of FATCA: ‘You [Americans] disgust me’,” was sparked by a comment on the CNN news site, in which an American inside the US stated, “You people disgust me” referring to US citizens abroad.  That person’s comment prompted AJ to write the following:

***

I decided to write this and get a few things off my chest. This is almost too long for a comment though. Is there any way to have it on the main page as a guest post? Feel free to share.

A letter to America from the son of an American

Several million US citizens live in other countries. Some are there as students, some are doing a stint abroad for an American company, and others have married a foreigner and decided to stay abroad with their spouse. Some Americans abroad, like London mayor Boris Johnson never even lived in the US, but were simply born there while their parents were temporarily working in the US. Others, like me, weren’t even born in America, but are American because one of our parents passed on their citizenship to us. Americans abroad are now in a moment of acute crisis, and I want to take a moment to talk about us and expats in general.

Continue reading →

Treasury Department spokesman Robert Stack claims it’s a myth that US persons living their everyday lives outside the US are being harmed by FATCA.  We know it’s true because the damage FATCA has caused and is causing to our lives is real.

In relation to the Stack statement, Tim noticed that Treasury was “re-iterating on twitter that NO ONE will give up their US citizenship because of FACTA and that it is only a myth that that is happening,” which caused Not Amused to write, “That makes us all mythical creatures then. If anyone related to any US government agency ever tries to contact me, I’ll tell them to have their head examined because people like me don’t exist.” 

“We Are Not a Myth” is a protest on Tumblr where we  post our photos to show that we are real.  You can show your face or hide it in your photo, as you wish, and you can add a message along with it.  You can add your photo yourself  OR e-mail atticusincanada@gmail.com and she’ll add it to the display.

Thanks much, Atticus, for setting this up on Tumblr.  Thanks to Blaze for the original suggestion, “It occurred to me that would be great to do around the world as a Treasury Myth Buster. Each person could do their own sign I Am Not A Myth and perhaps the country.”

And thanks all for your photos – the visuals are so eloquent!