Liberty and justice for all United States persons abroad

Harper government accepts national origin discrimination for US Persons, but not for meat

If Canadians bearing the stigma of US taint had any uncertainty about their true place in Canadian society, an announcement today by Stephen Harper should erase any lingering doubts: we are now less deserving of federal government protection than dead meat.

As the Canadian Press reported today:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is reiterating that Canada is prepared to retaliate in an ongoing trade war with the United States over country-of-origin meat-labelling rules.

Speaking with rural leaders in Saskatoon Thursday, Harper said that retaliation will become essential at some point in the dispute.

American country-of-origin rules require all packaged meat to identify where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered.

Supporters of the law say it better informs U.S. consumers, but opponents argue that segregating animals and tracking them adds costs.

It would appear that the Prime Minister is less concerned about the US-imposed costs of segregating, tracking and labelling US Persons in Canada for their country-of-origin than he is about the same thing for pigs and cattle. Something else to remember come election day.

36 thoughts on “Harper government accepts national origin discrimination for US Persons, but not for meat

  1. The more I think about the British move to join the AIIB, the more bad news this presents to the US and the dollar.

    Now that the British have joined, the Germans and French can’t just sit idly by and watch the British influence the rules of the AIIB. Indeed they need a seat there as well. I think the French and Germans will join soon as well.

    As for the Yanks, they must be waiting for the news after they hacked off the French with big bank fines, and how the NSA hacked into Merkel’s phone. The USG must be having an ‘oops’ moment realising all their unilateralism perhaps won’t pay off in the long term.

    As for the attitude towards the Americans in the UK, the average Brit in the street doesn’t believe America’s best days are ahead. Only the US Ambassador in London believes that. This thinking I hope will influence a future FATCA lawsuit in the UK by ruling against the IGA.

  2. @ Bubblebustin
    Hmmm … I wonder? AIIB deals with financial things and it is an institution so I suppose the FATCA obsessed IRS would require it to get GIIN’d up just like every other financial institution in the world. However, I’ve been reading hundreds of comments about the Bill C-51 protests so I might not be the best one to answer that properly. My brain is full to the brim with opinions about the bill and Harper. So wish Bill C-31 had evoked the protests that Bill C-51 has today. Speaking out in favour of freedom is always a good thing.

  3. @Bubblebustin

    I don’t think so since they will bypass the US dollars by using other currencies & won’t be using the US as a pass through for funds… Basically… the US will be stomping their feet when others join with… U are suppose to be my friend & be my slave forever… u can’t do this to me… or… or… I will tell everyone… u suck…

  4. @EmBee

    “GIIN’d up”, lol!

    It’s easy to feel slighted that C31 hasn’t gotten the attention that C51 has, but by nature of the fact that those most affected by C31 don’t want to really want to draw attention to themselves, I wouldn’t feel too bad. Besides that, I get the impression that these protesters are using it as a platform to show their discontent with the Harper government in general. If I lived in Vancouver I would have shown up with a sign that connected the two bills together, as I see many people have done with various other causes.

    @USForeignPerson

    Well that makes perfect sense if US has no way of imposing the 30% sanction against the bank, but then the bank better make sure they don’t do business with other financial institutions that have that exposure!

  5. To: Burger King: If you are…then I’m withholding 30%. Your $3.89 Whopper just became $2.72. Thank you very much. Now make sure you pay your sales taxes. 😛

  6. With Bill C-51; I think we should start carrying protest signs with

    “Is Stephen Harper a Terrorist”

    – undermined the democratic process of elections in Canada
    – sold out 1M Canadians to the IRS and undermined the economy and sovereignty of Canada
    – rapes and pillages natural resources of Canada and sells it to the highest bidder
    – uses secret police (CSIS) to monitor and terrorize Canadian citizens.

    By his own definition he is…

  7. Also on the topics of citizenship discrimination and meat:
    http://freebeacon.com/issues/govt-accuses-company-of-discrimination-over-employees-having-to-prove-citizenship-status/
    http://www.ibtimes.com/immigration-discrimination-laws-nebraska-beef-ltd-improperly-required-workers-prove-2066231

    The DOJ claims that Nebraska Beef Ltd., a Nebraska-based meat packing company, “required non-U.S. citizens, but not similarly-situated U.S. citizens, to present specific documentary proof of their immigration status to verify their employment eligibility.”

    After receiving pressure from the government, Nebraska Beef agreed to pay $200,000 in a civil penalty settlement and said they will establish an uncapped back pay fund for people who lost wages because they could not prove they are in the country legally.

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