[This letter from the Honourable Elizabeth May was prompted by a letter to her from one of our supporters.]
“September 22, 2015
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, PC, MP
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to inform you of an urgent deadline that impacts many Canadians, including many of my constituents in Saanich Gulf Islands.
As you are well aware, the Government passed Bill C31 in the spring of 2014, that, amongst its many provisions, implemented an intergovernmental agreement with the United States respecting the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
Per the terms of that agreement, the private banking information of hundreds of thousands of Canadian citizens and permanent residents is set to be transferred by Canada Revenue Agency to the IRS on September 23, 2015.
This is unacceptable.
It is a breach of privacy and an attack on citizenship, sovereignty, and access to justice for the Canadian government to allow Canadian banks to send personal financial information of Canadian citizens to another country.
I implore you, Prime Minister, to act now to protect the privacy of Canadian citizens. The IRS is receptive to extension requests and has already granted extensions to other countries. You can, and should, write to the IRS by end of business day and seek an extension from the IRS.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth May, OC, MP
Incumbent Candidate for Saanich Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada”