For those in the Edmonton and Calgary areas, the Liberal leader, Justin Trudeau, is holding rallies next week. Free to attend but you need to request tickets in advance.
The man says he wants to hear from Canadians about what is important to them and what his party should focus on and stand for, and while at least one of his MP’s has questioned the sitting government on FATCA, the party hasn’t put forth an official stance as the Greens and the NDP have.
With the party set to hold its convention this coming February 20 – 23 in Montreal, any and all input should probably be made ahead of this gathering. Policy is on the agenda and if the Liberals can tackle legalizing prostitution and euthanasia, FATCA couldn’t be considered more controversial, could it?
Follow this link for more details on the rallies. There are two by-elections slated for Alberta soon, so we should be seeing a lot more of Mr. Trudeau.
Thanks for the information, Yoga Girl. The link in your post goes to the Edmonton gathering. The lunch too dear a price and obviously aimed at the corporate sector downtown; the other I will order a free ticket but would have to cancel if the weather / roads are at all dicey as it would involve night driving that I generally any more do — quite a ways and on some country roads. Good opportunity though for someone closer to or in Okotoks.
Here are two for Southern Alberta: Calgary & Okotoks :
Lunch and Conversation with Justin Trudeau – Calgary
January 22 at 12:00 PM
Calgary Alberta T2P 4K9
Ticket information
Price Tickets Requested
$500.00
$1,200.00
Event Information
Please join us for Lunch and Conversation with Justin Trudeau.
WHEN: Wednesday January 22 2014
12:00pm – 1:15pm
WHERE: McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Suite 3300 421 7th Ave SW
Calgary, AB
T2P 4K9
For further information please contact Bryan West at: bwest@mccarthy.ca or Whitney Coccimiglio at: wcoccimiglio@liberal.ca
Meet & Greet with Justin in Okotoks
January 22 at 9:00 PM (NOTE: presume 9:00 p.m. start time is incorrect! / see below)
Okotoks Alberta T1S 2N3
Registration Information
Price Tickets Requested
Free
Event Information
This is an important local gathering of Canadians. That’s because it’s our first opportunity to really prepare for the upcoming by-election.
Two months ago we were 319 votes short of electing a Liberal MP in Brandon—Souris. We proved that electing a Liberal MP is within our reach anywhere in Canada. But it will take hope and hard work, and Canadians like you pitching in as volunteers to earn the trust and support of the people of Macleod.
That’s why I hope to see you there – winning elections starts with building a great team. And the Liberal team in your region needs you to join us as we bring our message of change to Canadians.
Anyone can attend this free event so feel free to invite a friend but space is limited so please help us plan ahead by submitting an RSVP here.
Here are the details:
What: Meet & Greet with Justin in Okotoks
When: Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Time: 7 PM to 8:30 PM
Where: Foothills Centennial Centre, 204 Community Way, Okotoks
No entry fee.
This event is also a chance for Canadians like you to come out and meet me and ask questions about the issues that matter to you.
The personal conversations I have with Canadians are an important way of demonstrating politics done differently.
I’ve met and listened to thousands of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. And now I hope to meet and hear from you.
Join me and let’s chat about the country we could build together.
Thank you.
Justin
Thanks for the Okotoks link.
I am working and can’t get to the Edmonton gathering, but perhaps someone else in the area can make it.
I really wish I could make the convention. I actually got picked as a delegate from my riding but it’s a pricey a trip from this distance and for that amount of time and I simply can’t make it work out.
With a by-election perhaps we will see JT around here again in the near future. That man keeps to a brutal schedule but he hasn’t spent much time further north than Calgary.
I suppose that this clip from Fox News will take some attention, I hope that Harper is not going to trade FATCA approval for Keystone XL approval ! :
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/15/canada-moves-to-plan-b-with-keystone-xl-pipeline/
“Where crude oil is concerned, Canada waits for no country. It doesn’t matter how wealthy or how friendly that country is — or whether that country is the United States.
With the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline stuck in limbo on the U.S. side, Canada’s Energy Board recently gave a thumbs up to a $6.5 billion pipeline designed to carry 525,000 barrels of oil per day from the oil sands of Alberta to ships on the British Columbia coast. The final destination is most likely Asia.”
Yoga Girl,
JT is usually here for Stampede and makes rounds at Stampede Pancake Breakfasts, particularly the one in my neighbourhood, only blocks away from where I live, as my MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) is Liberal, Dr. David Swann. Stampede time will be here before I know it but hope I can take an opportunity before then.
nervousinvestor, though I think a lot of Albertans take for granted the impact of the oilsands on our economy, I don’t think the current fed govt or the wanna-be PM’s do. Both JT and Mulcair are going to have to step up their presence here. I have read that Mulcair is taking a page from JT and hitting the handshake tour across the country now as well.
Calgary411, I have never been to Stampede though my husband went (usually taking out of town relatives) when he lived there long ago. Mostly, I have driven past Calgary. The one time I was actually there was to renew the young daughter’s passport (hopefully for the last time b/c she is adamant that she will use her Canadian one once we are citizens – which who the fuck knows when that will be as the Harper govt funnels most of its energy toward luring and legalizing skilled workers these days). I am super bummed about missing JT and the convention. I haven’t been this pleased about a pol since I stuffed envelopes for Jimmy Carter at the Dem headquarters in my hometown when I was in junior high. My husband says that I will end up crushed and disillusioned and I don’t dismiss his take. They all let you down but I refuse to be chronically cynical and disengaged and it amazes me how easily Canadians can access their reps at all levels of govt. It is so not like that in the US.
YogaGirl,
I haven’t been to the Stampede in over a decade, the last time relatives visited at that time of the year. Too bloody expensive and you’ve experienced it once, you’ve experienced it. All the political candidates, though, seem to don their hats and boots (without cattle) and mingle with the crowds, including at the many, many pancake breakfasts, usually with some good entertainment. A fun, free time for families — we always go to two here, the CBC breakfast, a couple blocks away and the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association breakfast, a couple of blocks away another direction. That’s about all the ‘stampeding’ I do. By the end of that extra-long week, everyone is tired of wearing denim and eating pancakes.
YogaGirl
This is not a political argument I just know enough about how the economy works.
Both the Liberals and NDP will sign the IGA if they were in power. You can always object when you are out of power. The damage to the economy would be just to great if USA applied that 30% witholding.
It like playing chicken where the USA is 18 wheeler and Canada is a family sedan. Unlike other countries the CRA and Canadian courts will not collect taxes against Canadians.
What we should push for is no FFI can shut down a Canadian asset account for a Canadian citizen.
Also once EU, Swiss, Mexico, Japan signed on it became to reject. The G20-1 should have formed a united front against it. Then you have a 18 wheeler against another 18 wheeler.
I am also certain that the ruling party would love to see the Supreme Court of Canada throw out most of FACT. The 30% withholding on US assets for people who do not want to be recalcitrant will probably stay.
GeorgeIII, I completely agree that the Libs and the NDP will roll over if America snaps its fingers giving the command b/c I don’t think they understand that they have the power to cripple FATCA or maybe they do and they (probably with good reason) fear the backlash from the USG. I also agree that any IGA has to demand that Canadian citizens are exempt whether they share accounts or not. There should be no compromise on that. The IRS should have no access to any financial info of any Canadian citizen. It’s harder to make a legal pitch for duals and residents though b/c the Canadian govt traditional backs off when your “other” country comes looking for you, but the CRA shouldn’t do any more than the current tax treaty allows for which means no collecting of taxes, fines or sharing of identifying info on accounts like account numbers, locations and balances.
Calgary411, cowboy stuff doesn’t interest me and I am not much of a horse person or rodeo person (though my daughter went to a rodeo a couple summers back and loved it). Pancake breakfasts however? I would totally be there. Especially if I could walk.
I have ordered a “free” ticket to the Okotoks event, Wednesday, January 22, and will be accompanied by one other Brocker, “disgusted”. So looking forward to meeting another FATCA fighter from these parts.
Soon after my order, I received the following. I also include my reply:
@ calgary411
Terrific reply to that invitation. Tuxedo Park — that’s one of the Calgary area’s I grew up in. I had to go to Streetview Google to find out that my old elementary school is now a “learning service” (adult education apparently). Grant MacEwan’s daughter, Heather, was my Grade 5 teacher there. Thank goodness she will never know (I hope) that one of her “little ones” is now a “wanted woman” by US tax law.
Calgary411, nice reply to the query. I doubt thought that the LIbs will take any new stands before the convention. JT’s been fairly adamant on the “we want to reflect the will/needs of the people” hence the tours and the invitations. I don’t think you have to be totally willing to throw in with them just to attend. Accepting an invite is merely showing a willingness to be convinced – should they make a good showing. All new topics for debate in Montreal originate at the lower levels, so if you want FATCA to come up in Montreal, I think you could bring it up to the riding reps.