[We now have a NEW POST taking us up to February 1, 2015. This post will be retired from service.]
THE AUTUMN 2014 UPDATE
Dear Donors,
Together, we reached our goal of $100,000 to pay the November 1 legal bill 11 days ahead of schedule!
Thank you Canadian donors from coast to coast and our friends from around the world for your generosity, support and determination — and especially for not being afraid.
The name of our non-profit corporation is the “Alliance for the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty.”
We were very deliberate in including in our name the word “sovereignty”, which forms a cornerstone of our Claims against the Government of Canada.
Canada and dozens of other countries throughout the world gave into a bully because their “leaders” were afraid of harm caused by a trading “partner” — and they gave their sovereignties away.
Help us convince by example the Leaders and Governments of all countries worldwide that they should return their sovereignties back to their Peoples.
Please continue to support our lawsuit.
“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” (Helen Keller)
— Plaintiffs Ginny and Gwen, and the ADCS-ADSC team
Chers donateurs,
Ensemble, nous avons atteint notre but d’amasser 100 000 $ pour payer notre facture légale du 1er novembre 11 jours d’avance !
Un gros merci à vous, donateurs canadiens, et à nos amis de tous les coins du monde pour votre grande générosité, soutien et détermination. Et surtout pour votre courage.
Le nom de notre organisme sans but lucratif est « l’Alliance pour la défense de la souveraineté canadienne ».
Nous avons choisi délibérément le mot « souveraineté » puisqu’il constitue la base fondamentale de nos revendications envers le gouvernement du Canada.
Le Canada et des dizaines d’autres pays se sont pliés devant l’intimidation des États-Unis parce que leurs « leaders » ont eu peur des menaces de notre « partenaire » commercial. Ils ont donc vendu leur souveraineté à rabais.
Aidez-nous à convaincre les dirigeants et les gouvernements de tous ces pays qu’ils se doivent de remettre leur souveraineté à leurs peuples.
S’il vous plaît, continuez à soutenir notre cause.
« Seuls, nous pouvons faire si peu. Ensemble, nous pouvons faire beaucoup. » (Helen Keller)
— Ginny, Gwen et toute l’équipe de l’ADCS-ADSC
DONATE to www.adcs-adsc.ca (ADSC en français).
When the Canadian government is defeated, will this mean anything different to other countries that were bullied? Should this challenge and all information go to the UN? This will now get bigger and be supported all over the world…..
What I would like to propose, and possibly organize here for the London area is a lunch date similar to the “Brock lunch” that was on June 7th. If you read here and never comment, that would be fine. I don’t need your name, but what I would like to hear is “ideas” on how to get the message out and further the efforts to protect every Canadian. A lunch date, even on a Sunday afternoon in the park would work. A gathering of strength and ideas…. Could this work?
@Native Canadian “will this mean anything different to other countries that were bullied? ”
Likely no……….I say that because the law will already be on the books. Actually even if its thrown out in the US, the law will still be on the books of many other countries who will still hand over information.
The benefit however is that it will provide a template and example of the fatal flaws in the law that can possibly be applied in other countries.
@NC: We mighat be able to get a Readser to Reader letter in London Free Press and/or UR Opinion in LFP. R 2 R only publishes every other Saturday. UR Opinion every day. I think R to R may reach a wider audience.
Any luck on your efforts with radio stations or CTV?
For your consideration:
I received the following question on my email today:
I, of course, passed that idea on to Dr. Kish, who responded:
So, PASS IT ON…
I also had a call from a Calgary friend who today renounced her U.S. citizenship at the Calgary U.S. Consulate. Friday, the 13th, will never again be a day of bad luck — from now on only good fortune for her. She came from her renunciation meeting ecstatic and shared her happy day with me. She and her husband are right now celebrating the milestone in their retired lives.
…and I had coffee this morning with a now new Calgary friend who has also recently renounced and in the process of figuring out how to do all of the clean-up paperwork.
Each of these meetings with new “US Person” friends has been special for me. I would love for a bunch of us to get together in Calgary and area just as ‘NativeCanadian’ suggests for a gathering in London. In communities across Canada we could also make a Canadian Sovereignty Lost statement to other Canadians who will be at Canada Day celebrations — an opportune, good weather time to come together to meet in person.
Let ‘NativeCanadian’ know your interest for a get-together in London, ON.
Let me, calgary411, know your interest for a get-together in Calgary, AB.
@Native Canadian
I’m in for a London gathering. Anything you choose works for me.
@ ADCS board
May we put ADCS-ADSC on our cheques instead of Alliance for the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty (hard to fit on the “pay to” line)? Just wondering …
@Em,
The bank really wants on our cheques the full legal name of our non-profit, which can be either in english or in french. You can make two lines on the cheque if necessary.
One cheque I received did have just “ADCS” which I was able to deposit, but it could have been refused.
The board and its helpers struggled long and hard to come up with our name —yes it is long.
Yesterday I spent the day in the kitchen preparing for a dear friend’s 60th birthday party and I had the television tuned to the CBC newschannel all day. I learned that the Supreme Court has ruled against the government’s Bill C-13, the bill which would have allowed law enforcement to invade the privacy of internet users in order to catch potential cyber-bullies. The Court ruled that a warrant must be issued for such a search against specific individuals who are suspected of a crime. The plaintiff was a single individual. The Court ruled that his Charter rights had been violated. Did it cost him a million dollars? Did he have backers? If so, I’m certain that these are people who are concerned about the breach of privacy rights in general and not concerned about the protection of real criminals. Can we find out who these backers are and bring our Challenge to their attention?
Here is an example of a successful Charter challenge to very recent legislation. Can we possibly find out as much as we can about how this success was attained?
Ann Cavoukian,Ontarios privacy commissioner expressed her delight this morning on the Supreme Courts decision regarding online privacy. She was interviewed on cbc the House this morning.
http://www.cbc.ca/thehouse/index.html
http://www.ipc.on.ca/english/About-Us/How-to-Reach-Us/
@Muzzled,
The general outcome was good in that the Supreme Court of Canada supported privacy rights for Canadians. But my understanding is that this was a criminal case, unlike ours.
The single appellant was a man facing child pornography charges. I suspect but do not know that his defence costs were paid for by legal aid.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/top-court-rules-search-warrant-needed-to-access-internet-information-1.1866833
See the timeline of the appeal to Supreme Court (about 1.5 years). CCLA and Privacy Commissioner were interveners:
http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/case-dossier/info/dock-regi-eng.aspx?cas=34644
The Supreme Court decision:
http://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/14233/index.do
Cross posting here something it would also be good to capture at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIW37BX83ZGfc0filSfbvvw:
I viewed and listened here: http://senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/Guide.aspx?viewmode=4&categoryid=-1¤tdate=2014-06-12&languagecode=12298&eventid=9569#, which is the Senate hearing where from which he is quoted.
Listen to MP Chris Alexander at about 39:35 (where, of course, he is discussing the Citizenship Bill C-24, terrorism, etc.) where he says:
Along, perhaps, with a clip of the Conservative heckling of MP Mike Sullivan when he was discussing my son’s “US citizenship entrapment” situation:
Although Mr. Sullivan was off on some detail of my family’s specific facts (highlighted below), he got the main point across – that my son is unable to renounce (and parents, guardian, trustee of such a person cannot do so on his behalf, even with a court order). I can’t quite understand the Conservative talking point that — Conservative MP Allen seems to indicate that Canada might condone and encourage tax evasion by saying that the registered accounts are exempt from reporting – true for the banks. They are not exempt for the individual’s US responsibility.
@ Stephen Kish
Re: cheques. That’s okay. I like the name and I did manage to squeeze it in on one line last time (took me a second try though).
@ MuzzledNoMore
The Bill C-13 (portion of) decision is indeed good news and I too would love to know how this was accomplished. The Canadian government is dead set on internet and all other forms of privacy invasion. They will try again so constant vigilance is needed.
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/supreme-court-rules-police-need-warrants-to-track-down-internet-users-1.1128206
@Sid and those interested in the privacy issue in Ontario
Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner Says Privacy is Essential In A Functioning Democracy, This Sunday on Contact
(June 13, 2014) Toronto – Is privacy still possible in the age of social media and online commerce?
According to Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, the answer is yes.
After 17 years, Dr. Cavoukian will be stepping down from the post at the end of this month. She is also the co-author of two previous books on privacy. Her latest book, Privacy by Design: From Rhetoric to Reality. She came to our Toronto studio to discuss how privacy is still possible in an expanding social media age as well as the impact of Edward Snowden.
Dr. Cavoukian says privacy laws, both in the public and private sectors, are essential in preserving functioning democracies. While there are challenges to ensure privacy, the public must be diligent when going online and understanding the risks involved.
Hear more. Learn more. This Sunday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. make Contact …on AMI Audio.
AMI-audio can be accessed on the Secondary Audio Program of CBC Newsworld; on Bell Aliant (ch 988), Bell (ch 049), Cogeco-Ontario (ch 596), Compton (ch 088); Eastlink (ch 394), MTS (ch 704), Novus (ch 889), Rogers (ch 196), Sasktel (ch 555), Shaw (Cable) (ch 889), Shaw Direct-Advanced (ch 288), Shaw Direct-Classic (ch 825), Source Cable (ch 110), Tbaytel (IPTV) (ch 1112), Telus (ch 889) and Westman (ch 889) and at http://www.ami.ca.
For more information, please contact Paul Daniel, Producer-Specialty Programs, at 647-729-0965 or by email at paul.daniel@ami.ca.
Here is a link to the transcript of the debate in which NDP MP Sullivan tries to get some acknowledgment from the Conservatives re FATCA and the effects of US extraterritorial CBT on Canadians deemed ‘US taxable persons’ – particularly on the US taxation of Canadian disability benefits, and RDSPs. MP Sullivan’s valiant attempt is met with disgusting heckling and laughter from the Conservatives – who apparently think that laughing at the plight of Canada’s vulnerable is acceptable behaviour from Parliamentarians.
NDP MP Mike Sullivan’s remarks start here:
http://openparliament.ca/debates/2014/6/11/mike-sullivan-4/?page=20
See also Green Party MP and Leader Elizabeth May’s comment http://openparliament.ca/debates/2014/6/11/elizabeth-may-8/
Read the whole exchange and note this questionable comment by Conservative Mike Allen, who dismisses concern about Canadian’s legal local savings :
…….”..Between $50,000 and $1 million, there would be an electronic scan. If there are no U.S. indicia, guess what? It would be non-reportable. Most people have never given that on their bank account, whether it be an address or taxpayer identification number. The only amount that we get into a real challenge with is over $1 million, where there would have to be a manual check…”…
http://openparliament.ca/debates/2014/6/11/mike-allen-9/
I would think that MP Mike Allen’s last statement would be enraging for those with over $1 million, whose concerns and assets he so blithely dismisses as of no concern. And, I’m sure that his tossed off remarks will not comfort the business partners and joint accountholders holding a Canadian business or family account with at least one CanadiandeemedUSperson owner, and Canadian earned, held and taxed assets that reach the threshold for the manual search.
I have just sent this email
Sent: June-14-14 6:58:16 PM
To: stephen.harper@parl.gc.ca
Cc: gerald.keddy@parl.gc.ca; mike.allen@parl.gc.ca; gord.brown@parl.gc.ca; brian.storseth@parl.gc.ca; dave.vankesteren@parl.gc.ca; andrew.saxton@parl.gc.ca; mike.sullivan@parl.gc.ca; thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca; elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca; james.rajotte@parl.gc.ca; mark.adler@parl.gc.ca
To Conservative Members of Parliament:
I would like to draw attention to the shameful behaviour in the House of Commons on the evening of June 11/14 of MP’s Gerald Keddy, Gord Brown and Brian Storseth while MP Mike Sullivan was attempting to speak. Their rude, insensitive heckling and laughter at the expense of a mentally disabled man can only be described as disgraceful, dishonourable and clearly far below the acceptable standard of conduct for any decent human being.
Mr. Sullivan was describing the injustice of this man’s situation due to the reprehensible actions of the current United States Obama administration in attempting to enforce the USA’s immoral and unjust law of “citizenship based taxation”, whereby the US feels that it has the right to tax people who live, work, earn income and pay taxes in other countries – people who are citizens of other countries (in many cases from birth), people whose ties to the US are often distant (such as place of birth or parent’s place of birth many years or decades ago), and people who receive no services or benefits from the US.
The United States is attempting to enforce this immoral law through FATCA, which violates privacy and Charter rights of many potentially affected Canadian citizens. With the passing of Bill C-31 the Conservative government has created a second class of Canadian citizens (of US origin, as defined solely by the US government) who will suffer discrimination on the basis of national or ethnic origin, in contrast to all other Canadian citizens. This is a violation of section 15 of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The IGA enabling legislation also violates sections 7 and 8.
Mr. Allen, stop staying that the IGA protects Canadians – it doesn’t. It has the potential to expose thousands of Canadians to the loss of personal financial privacy and the rapacious actions of the US Internal Revenue Service. Stop emphasizing that the information is being transferred with the treaty protections of the CRA – it is still ending up with the IRS.
Mr. Allen, Mr. Keddy, Mr. Van Kesteren and Mr. Saxton, stop saying that so-called “US Persons” living in Canada have “always had the obligation to file US income tax returns”. Nonsense – there is no obligation to follow an unjust law. This US law of taxing citizens globally is a bad and immoral law that has no place in today’s world (it was first enacted in the 1860’s at the time of the American Civil War when the average American did not even pay income tax – hardly the world that we live in now). The only other country that does this is Eritrea, a country that is not a democracy and which has a poor record on human rights issues.
Conservative MP’s, you have failed in your duty to protect all Canadian citizens from the criminal actions of the US government. As elected representatives of the Canadian people, this should be your highest priority – to uphold the rights of all Canadian citizens, not just the majority. The US government is committing extortion, forcing its will only through the threat of penalties (ie. the threat of withholding 30% of US source income to banks etc.). You are really only protecting the banks and you know it, but you don’t have the courage or integrity to admit it.
Mr. Harper, you talk so much about standing up to bullies but you have failed in your chance to stand up to the US bully. You seem to care more about the sovereignty of the Ukraine and Israel than you do about the sovereignty of Canada. You are allowing the United States to enforce a foreign law on Canadian citizens living in Canada.
Mr. Keddy, you have made inaccurate statements about the US taxation of income in registered accounts such as RESP’s. None of you seem to recognize that the US Internal Revenue Code is hostile to any savings vehicle that defers tax and that is “foreign” – Canadian registered savings accounts are both of these in the eyes of the IRS. Why should citizens of other countries have to share more personal financial information (ex. account balances, transactions etc.) to the IRS than true Americans resident in the US have to?
I ask every Conservative MP:
How would you feel about paying tax to a foreign country where you have never lived or worked?
With money that was earned and taxed in Canada?
About paying high-priced accountants hundreds or thousands of dollars to fill out multiple complex tax forms?
Have any of you ever been the victim of injustice?
Have any of you ever been a member of a persecuted minority?
Have any of you ever been made to feel like a criminal when you have done nothing wrong?
I challenge each of you to answer these questions truthfully.
Mr. Keddy, Mr. Brown, Mr. Storseth, your disrespectful behaviour on June 11 demonstrates an appalling lack of class. What would the late Jim Flaherty, the father of a mentally disabled son himself, the creator of the RDSP, have thought about your making fun of such a person? You owe Ms. Carol Tapanila, this man’s mother, an apology. Mr. Storseth, as you live in Alberta, you should drive to Calgary and deliver it to her personally.
Conservative MP’s, you have betrayed Canada by voting for Bill C-31.
@ Mr. A.
That must be Mr. “A for Applaudable”. Very good letter and thanks for taking the time to craft it and send it to some MPs who deserve our disapproval for their lack of respect for one of Canada’s “sons” and their lack of knowledge about FATCA.
Mr. A, what can I say but that you have my gratitude for such a powerful letter? I thank you so much!
May I ask you a favour — that you also forward your email on to my Conservative MP, Michelle Rempel: Michelle.Rempel@parl.gc.ca
and to MP Murray Rankin, Murray.Rankin@parl.gc.ca.
The sad truth is that very few ‘US Person’ Albertans, and no Calgarians, have any MP to represent them. My representation has been from the MPs like Mike Sullivan from Ontario and Murray Rankin from BC, as well as the other NDP MPs who have heard my story, Green Party MP Elizabeth May and Liberals MPs Scott Brison and Ted Hsu.
I would also like you permission to send this on to journalists who have interviewed me. I may not be the person to decide, but should this not be a story that is in the media for ALL Canadians to see and judge the actions of all of these Conservatives, including Mr. Allen?
Thank you also for pointing out what Mr. Flaherty might have thought of this display — I believe you are right on the money there!
What an awesome letter! I think it should be forwarded to every newspaper in Canada to be published in there opinion or letter to the editor sections!
@Em
Thank you for providing the video link that allowed me to watch the HOC session this afternoon. I did sign the letter with my real name and mentioned that I am a fourth generation Canadian.
@Calgary
I will forward my email to MP’s Rempel & Rankin and of course you have my permission to send my letter to your journalists. The sad truth is that I probably will not get any replies from the Conservative MP’s and I wouldn’t be surprised if some (or all?) of them don’t even read it. However I feel that I have to do something. I continue to find strength and inspiration from Martin Luther King, such as:
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” Cheers
Mr. A:
A+
Yes please, make Mr. A’s words more widespread. (One teensy fix though — that “t” in “saying” after Mr. Allen.)
@ All
I hope all the Brockers from the past who have successfully navigated their way to a CLN and out of the IRS filing morass will find their way to the donation page at stopfatca.ca. It would be a fitting salute to their new freedom to put a bit into the fund. I hope at least some Conservative MPs will assuage their guilty consciences with a donation too.
Thank you, Mr. A, for forwarding your email to my Calgary MP and to Mr. Rankin. That we do not get replies underlines what the Conservatives have become.
As you know from previous comments, I absolutely agree with your quote (and others) from Martin Luther King:
Thank you once again for your action and your caring.
Wow Mr. A.