Liberty and justice for all United States persons abroad

The Isaac Brock Society

Posted on by Posted in Issues regarding US persons abroad 162 Comments

If you are a Canadian citizen, you have the opportunity, and IMO the responsibility, to vote in the October 19 Canadian federal election. Certainly if you reside in Canada, and (with some restrictions I won’t go into here) even if you don’t.

This is Canadians’ opportunity to pass judgment on whether the government of Stephen Harper has stood up for Canada, for Canadian values, for Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and for Canadian citizens. And to decide whether maybe some other party should be given the chance to govern our country, for the better (we all hope).

My personal advice is to vote for anyone other than the Conservative in your riding, either the candidate most likely to defeat the Conservative candidate, or if you can’t figure out who that might be, perhaps the party leading in the national polls as of today (the Liberals) and hence with the most credible chance of getting more seats than the Conservatives and hence forming our next government. Or, if you have an incumbent MP who isn’t a Conservative and whom you respect and like, vote for that incumbent.

If you can’t bring yourself to vote for anyone other than a Conservative, but are appalled at Stephen Harper’s idea of governance of Canada, take former Progressive Conservative Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Danny Williams’ advice, and just stay at home and don’t vote this time around. Ignore that absurd recommendation by the Globe and Mail, which said the Conservatives deserve another mandate but Harper doesn’t. In our parliamentary system you can’t make that distinction, it makes no sense. Harper is the Conservative leader, if the Conservatives really wanted to they could have deposed him but didn’t, and trying to say the Conservatives aren’t to blame for Harper’s style of governance is utterly ridiculous. They’re all joined at the hip.

But VOTE. If you’re eligible to vote in this election and don’t, IMO you’ve lost any right to complain about the outcome.

I was born and educated in the US. After completing my post-graduate education, I entered Canada on a temporary work permit, moving to Canada because of the Vietnam war. Shortly after unpacking, I applied for landed immigrant status. A few months later I received in the mail an induction notice from the US Army; I drew a peace symbol on it in felt marker pen and mailed it back. As a result, I was indicted and a warrant was issued for my arrest (both were quashed in 1977 by the Carter amnesty). I became a Canadian citizen in 1975. In 1976, for the US Bicentennial I wrote a political letter to Henry Kissinger, then Secretary of State. In it I mentioned that I had "renounced" (I didn't then know of "relinquish") my US citizenship on becoming a Canadian, explaining in several pages my reasons for leaving the US. I also mentioned the fact that on my mother's side I am a descendant of a soldier who fought in Washington's army during the US rebellion, but now I was declaring my personal independence from the US and rejoining the British Commonwealth. Within six months, I received by mail a CLN recognizing my having expatriated myself from the US in 1975. I filed away my CLN and forgot I had it, until I found it after searching for it upon learning of FATCA and OVDI in August 2011. Since then, I proudly keep a photocopy of it with my passport (which is Canadian; I have never had a US passport in my life, nor will I ever). As a Canadian who long since ceased being an American and who has a CLN, I am not directly affected by FATCA or other US taxation outrages. However, my wife and several of her friends are affected, until their relinquishment CLNs (dating from 30-40 years ago) are issued. Also I have several close friends who were born in Canada of US parents and are considered by the US to be US citizens, though they have never lived in the US, worked there, earned income there, held property there, held US passports, or in any other way excercised USC and are horrified they might be considered US. I am active on this website and in writing my elected Canadian politicians about these issues, on their behalf. I am a retired former employee of the Government of Canada who faithfully and proudly served his adopted and adoptive country for many years. Updated September 2, 2012: earlier this week, my wife finally received her relinquishment CLN, State Department formal recognition that (in their exact words on the CLN) she "ceased to be a US citizen on" the date she became a Canadian more than 35 years ago. Mission Accomplished, to borrow words from my least-favourite contemporary/contemptible American. I will continue to monitor this website from time to time to see if I contribute useful information or opinions, but my wife and I are determined to regain our lives after the past twelve months of angst. Best wishes to all of you on this website in your odyssey toward freedom from the US.

162 thoughts on “October 19 is Election Day in Canada”

  1. It seems to me that the right to vote also includes the right to refrain from voting. The right to complain is related to free speech, and is not ceded because one does not also exercise the right to vote.

    I may vote but it will not be for the party of Prince Justin, nor for the NDP, nor for the Tories. I will vote perhaps for the Libertarian in my riding if there is one.

  4. May it not turn out that he is turned into a *king*. I will vote Liberal in my riding ONLY as mine is one in Calgary that has a chance to end the monopoly of the all Conservative MP representation in this city. I do want to see what JT’s definition of *A Canadian is A Canadian is A Canadian* really is.

  5. Petros, why the contemptuous “prince” reserved for Trudeau (who you like Harper call Justin) only? You may disdain the man, but at least detail why. It smacks of pettiness.

  6. If anyone is expecting Trudeau to stop the FATCA madness, dream on. You’re in for a disappointment. I suspect he barely knows what it is.

  7. @DMichael,

    A prince is the heir of a dynasty. Prince Justin stands to become the next Prime Minister solely because of his father’s previous reign as Prime Minister. That the Liberal Party has chosen him suggests that they believe that Canadians would prefer a king rather than good government. Their previously more accomplished and better qualified candidates were not princes and so failed to impress the Canadian public.

  8. “I do want to see what JT’s definition of *A Canadian is A Canadian is A Canadian* really is.”

    Will King Justin drop Canada’s defense against the ADCS lawsuit? I seriously doubt it. So I do not think he himself knows what he means.

  9. Surely everyone knows we don’t elect a PM!. It’s up to the voters who cast ballots in Calgary Heritage electoral district to determine Stephen Harper’s fate. If he is not elected in his home riding, then he would not survive long as the Conservative Party leader. The rest of the Conservatives will elect a new leader from the elected members to become PM if they form a new Parliament.

  10. “John Canuck says
    October 18, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    If anyone is expecting Trudeau to stop the FATCA madness, dream on. You’re in for a disappointment. I suspect he barely knows what it is.”

    Do not expect the NDP to overturn FATCA no serious Canadian party is going to destroy our economy just because some dual citizen do not want to renounce USA citizenship.
    You should only have the right to vote in an election where you have the responsibility to at least file taxes.

    Schubert words
    “Canadian citizens still protected from IRS tax collection and penalties, in Canada
    Posted by schubert1975”
    .
    .
    .
    “And, speaking in spite of being a life-long supporter and member of the NDP who has never voted Conservative in his life, God Bless Jim Flaherty. Our government is in fact standing on guard for its citizens. As is the NDP. Who knows what the Liberals stand for?”
    https://isaacbrocksociety.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/3200/

  11. @News; “Canadian party is going to destroy our economy just because some dual citizen do not want to renounce USA citizenship.”

    You surely forget the word “just” in your diatribe as in just renounce?

    But let me clarify, it is “just renounce” after having two lengthy meetings sometimes at great distance, paying $2,350 for the privilege to shed what is not wanted, filing numerous State Department forms under threat of penalty of prison, filing years of foreign tax returns under threat of prison, paying taxes on possibly money given you by the People of Canada…………….and on and on………..

    It was easier to leave the USSR.

  15. Vote strategically.

    Trudeau and Mulcair may not be intimately involved in the FATCA/IGA issue, but their would-be Finance Ministers are. Do you recall the standing committee on finance? Both Scott Brison and Nathan Cullen voted for an amendment to exclude Canadian citizens resident in Canada from the definition of US person under Canadian law. That must count for something.

  16. Right on, Marie. And, there are other issues to keep in mind that affect all second-class citizens.

  17. Yes, vote strategically. The conservatives have been winning in my riding for many years. This time, the Liberals are ahead in the polls here. Prior to Election day, I had an hour long chat with my local Liberal candidate about FATCA. Judy Higginbotham is well informed on the issue. I even put in some volunteer time and voted Liberal in the advanced polls. I hope Judy wins and will continue to stay in touch with her about FATCA and other related issues. It is encouraging that the Liberal and NDP Finance Ministers voted for amendment to the FATCA/IGA legislation as Marie says,

    ” Both Scott Brison and Nathan Cullen voted for an amendment to exclude Canadian citizens resident in Canada from the definition of US person under Canadian law. That must count for something.”

    The Harper Conservatives brought us this legislation and they need to be defeated.

  18. @PatCanadian, I agree completely. The Conservatives under Harper and Joe Oliver passed the IGA in the omnibus budget bill. They deserve to be punished for that. There is no guarantee that the Liberals or NDP would change it, but there is at least a better chance of getting through to them on the issue. I spent some time in this election canvassing with LeadNow in Joe Oliver’s riding to get people there to vote strategically.

    In my riding only the Liberal candidate has a chance of defeating the Conservative, and I believe he is approachable on the FATCA/IGA issue. Assuming he is elected — and that seems very likely — I will be contacting him about it and even requesting a meeting on it. I will try through this Isaac Brock Society web site to get some other IBS supporters in my area to request a joint meeting with him.

    I recommend that others who want changes or repeal of the IGA do the same in your ridings: If your local Liberal or NDP candidate wins, get together with others in your riding to request a group meeting with your MP about the IGA and FATCA.

  19. Do we remember what it was like to have a finance minister who supported us but a prime minister who had no balls? That finance minister resigned and is now dead, and we now have the IGA.

    I do not think that Prince Justin is one who will give his ministers a free hand, but rather who will be a dictator. But I guess time will tell. Perhaps his dictatorial ways will reform once he is king.

  21. As I posted on another thread it is important that we make our voices heard, not only at the ballot box today, but also tomorrow morning in the new Prime Minister’s inbox. I have written three letters and will send one of them tomorrow. I know that there are other Brockers prepared with their own three letters. If Mr. Trudeau wins, and if he is unclear about the significance of the FATCA IGA, he won’t be in the dark for long. Please join us in this letter-writing campaign! Make your voice heard LOUDLY!

  22. I voted my convictions: I am against statism–which has btw led to FATCA–Statism is a system of government in which individual rights wither away to nothing. All three of the major parties in Canada are statist.

  23. It’s literally the 11th hour. I still don’t know how I will vote, but I am voting. I am furious with Conservatives over Fatca and Bill C – 24. Justin is “wet behind the ears” and I’ve lived through a British Columbia NDP government (it was a mess). I really don’t like any of the parties. My vote will be cast with reluctance, not because I think they deserve it, but for the party that I think will do the less damage. AND, I hate how long this election as gone on and the American style of campaigning that all parties seemed to have adopted. We aren’t America! Don’t trash talk the other parties! I only care about what YOU believe! Trash talking doesn’t tell me what you believe.

  24. @Petros

    Their previously more accomplished and better qualified candidates were not princes and so failed to impress the Canadian public.

    Actually Trudeau’s predecessor Ignatieff is much closer to literally being a prince than is Trudeau. The Ignatieffs are a princely Russian family and Ignatieff fails to be a prince himself only because of that 1917 thing. Maybe Ignatieff would have had more luck if he’d run against Putin than against Harper.

  25. The next thing that’ll happen to expats is that they will be required to vote in US elections, and if they don’t, well……

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