Standing Committee on Finance Meeting 35 – May 14, 2014

129 thoughts on “Standing Committee on Finance Meeting 35 – May 14, 2014”

1. @bubblebustin

   The son is estranged from the mother and it sounds like a pretty ugly situation, actually. But most of the rest of the situation isn’t really relevant to the discussions on here so I won’t post the link if you haven’t found it.

   @calgary411

   You are right that the rules are different for someone born abroad if there are 2 US citizen parents versus just 1 US citizen parent. But I believe that citizenship is, technically, automatic from birth if the child qualifies in either case. In either case, in practice, some cooperation is required from the US citizen parent(s) to document the citizenship–absent that cooperation, and if the person was never registered as a US citizen, it appears that current USG practice is NOT to treat the person as a citizen even though, technically, they have been a citizen from birth.

   What has always been–and still is–unclear to me is what would happen if the USG tried to enforce citizenship obligations against someone whose USC status is unclear.

2. Is the Isaac Brock Society made up of a bunch of “loyalists”? You betcha – loyal to Canada!

3. Are there any more opportunities coming up to present our side? I know Lynne is offering to go before the Senate committee too. They definitely stack up the pro-FATCA testimonies. I guess that’s because Cons dictate who appears and who does not appear. I’m only starting to learn about the “wonders” of parliamentary committees.

4. OK, I’m going to show my ignorance regarding how the Canadian government works. What exactly is the purpose of these meetings of the Standing Committee on Finance? These members are MPs and the bill has already been passed in the House. Does this committee in any way influence the Senate when they deliberate?

5. @Kathy The Bill has NOT been passed in the House. We are trying to get the amendment in the Bill before it is passed or at least get the bill removed from the omnibus bill to allow for more debate and possible amendments.

   The amendment can be put forth through the Finance Committee. The Senate can recommend an amendment before the bill is passed, but the Senate does not vote on the bill itself. In addition, the House is not required to accept Senate recommendations, but a recommendation from them could help us.

   If people want to support my request to appear before the Senate Finance Committee, you can advise the clerk of the Finance Committee who will take it to the Steering Committee.

   You may also want to suggest they hear from Professors Christians and Cockfield. (I made those recommendation when I asked if I can appear). If you have any other ideas, you can suggest them.

   jodi.turner@sen.parl.ca

   You may want to copy the Chair and Vice Chair.

   joseph.day@sen.parl.gc.ca
   larry.smith@sen.parl.gc.ca

   It was actually easier with the House of Commons because Murray Rankin recommended Maple Sandbox be invited. Because Maple Sandbox is not a formal organization, I testified as an individual. This time I am actually putting my own name forward to Senate.

6. @Blaze
   Thank you for the explanation. I’ve read up a bit more on it now and see that there are a number of readings and I confused that with the vote.

   I will follow up on your suggestion to contact the clerk about you as well as Professors Christians and Cockfield.

7. I got this from the FINA clerk:

   Final transcription of meetings usually takes 5-7 business days after the meeting has taken place. Transcripts will be posted online at the following link:

   http://www.parl.gc.ca/CommitteeBusiness/CommitteeMeetings.aspx?Cmte=FINA&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2

   You have to click in the column titled “Evidence”. May 13th (Swanson, Christians & Cockfield) and May 14th (Richardson) meetings aren’t available yet but perhaps later this week they will be.

8. There have been some more FINA briefs posted. There is one from our dear ally Julian Hudson, our indomitable WhiteKat, our amazing Blaze and our champion John Richardson. Clever Julian even used small print size to make the brief fit the 5 page limit. Awesome!

   http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=6526468&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2

9. Also don’t miss reading the David Ash and Pat Mencke briefs. Bravo to both and thank you!

10. Thanks for letting us know of the newly posted briefs, Em — and to all who took the time to try to have your voice heard by those deliberating.

    I hope each will be thoroughly read and reflected on by members of the Finance Committee. They are indeed soul-searching submissions.

11. I’m still reading so I keep finding new briefs. Melinda Sampson and Rem Ricks also made excellent submissions. Terrific! This really puts a gleam of light into a rather gloomy day. Calgary411 added another brief, similar to what Blaze did.

12. Sorry for so many posts here but I just have to pass on a priceless quote from John Richardson’s brief:

    “Canadian citizens resident in Canada have the rights and obligations of all Canadian citizens and are NOT (as has been suggested) “U.S. property temporarily stored in Canada!” If they are not really Canadians or if they don’t really live in Canada, then why are they paying tax in Canada?”

    En francais:
    “Les citoyens canadiens d’origine américaine qui résident au Canada ont les droits et les obligations de tous les citoyens canadiens et ne sont PAS (comme certains l’ont laissé entendre) des « possessions américaines temporairement stockées au Canada »! S’ils ne sont pas vraiment des Canadiens ou s’ils ne vivent pas vraiment au Canada, pourquoi y paient-ils des impôts?”

13. Around 25% of the 67 FINA briefs posted so far regarding Bill C-31 are related to Part 5 (the FATCA IGA section). If you count the same brief regarding “trademarks legislation” submitted by 30 lawyers as one, then the percentage is almost 50%. There’s a message there. Will the MPs notice? Will they get it?

14. @Em

    Keep posting away…. I find it very informative Thank u

15. @Em: Thanks for realizing those were posted on Victoria Day.

    “We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist for us.” (Queen Victoria)

16. Badger posted this elsewhere but here’s the transcript for the May 14 meeting.
    http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=6601885&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2
    Witnesses:
    Richardson
    Hannah
    Kingston
    Bernier
    others not FATCA related

17. @Em,

    Thanks for this. You might notice this is placed at the top of this post just under the video.

18. @ Tricia
    Oh dear, the type was too large — totally missed it. 🙂 Actually, I’ve been out all day and I’m still trying to catch up so between my sieve for a brain and my ineffectual attempt at speed reading I am probably missing more than that. Saturdays are often quieter on Brock but not this one.

19. Can someone tell my why the Standing Committee on Finance video from May 13, 2014 is no longer available on the Isaac Brock You Tube site? I would like to access Max Reed’s testimony.

20. @ Bubblebustin
    It can still be viewed here (put the colon back in) …
    https //www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxJf_Lk-yig
    Max Reed starts at 1:26:46

21. Thank you EmBee, but I tried it on two devices and the link doesn’t work. Says it’s not available. Others work. Does it work for you?

22. @ Bubblebustin
    Yes, I’m watching it right now, using Firefox browser.

23. @ Bubblebustin
    If you can’t get the video here’s the transcript:
    http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=6597204&Language=E&Mode=1

24. To me, the video link showed (in Firefox and Google Chrome)

    *This video is unavailable. You need Adobe Flash Player to watch this video…*

    but it did open / did not start automatically in Firefox but did in Google Chrome but did after START symbol clicked:

25. Thanks EmBee, Calgary411. Just trying to get a visual on Max Reed to show my husband. Apparently he’s one of our lawyers now.