March 8, 2016 UPDATE: Legal fees paid — on to Federal Court for Charter trial contesting Canadian FATCA IGA legislation.
Canadians and International Supporters:
You came through once again: $594,970 for legal costs have now been donated and our outstanding legal bill is finally paid off.
Thanks especially to those who donated even though they never had any “spare” money to give, and despite this gave over and over and over again.
This last round of fundraising also shows that our Canadian lawsuit remains dependent on the kindness of our International Friends: There would be no lawsuit without their financial help.
Know that a very generous donation (today) from a supporter in the United States made it possible to pay off the remaining legal debt. Also please appreciate that there would be no lawsuit without the help of the Isaac Brock Society which has kindly let us use its website to solicit funds.
Our next step is the Constitutional-Charter trial in Federal Court.
For this we need more Canadian Witnesses, and my next post will be devoted only to a request for Witnesses willing to go public, like our Plaintiffs Ginny and Gwen.
For the future: I want a win in Federal Court — and I want the new Liberal Government not to appeal that win.
Thank you all for your support,
Stephen Kish,
for the Directors,
Alliance for the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty
@Calgary
In particular the text of the IGA call for further consultations on the agreement to take place prior to December 31, 2016. So my question to Justin Trudeau is will the Canadian people and Parliament be able to take part in these consultation as they are able to do with the TPP agreement.
Justin Trudeau tells Liberal MPs to be a ‘strong voice’ for constituents
and the new Justice Minister is interviewed on Power and Politics: Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Jody-Wilson Raybould discusses her new job and her priorities
Stephen says above:
Just received this email — one way to ask our questions on TPP — and perhaps FATCA too for more awareness.
After years of calling for openness and transparency, I’m pleased to announce that the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was finally released today.
While the far-reaching trade deal was being negotiated by the Harper government, only cleared advisors and lobbyists were allowed to see it. People like you and me were ignored.
But now Canada has a new government promising to be open and responsive to the people. That means now our voices may actually be heard on key national issues.
The TPP is priority one for new Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland. And right now she is welcoming “suggestions and ideas from all Canadians” on the massive deal. So we’re mobilizing the Council of Canadians community to share our concerns!
Here’s what you can ask Prime Minister Trudeau and Trade Minister Freeland to do:
Please join me in sending a letter to the new minister now.
Thank you so much for taking action,
Sujata Dey
Trade Campaigner
Got a response back to my email to MP Anita Vendenbeld this morning:
“Good evening,
I will pass your concerns onto the MP. Thank you for taking the time to write. We are currently in transition, so we appreciate your patience.
Thanks, Kathleen Brimacombe”
Wanna bet, Anita will never reads what I wrote?
When she was campaigning she spent an hour a week at a local Tim Hortons meeting potential voter supporters. I’m not sure if she still does this, but my plan is to give my letter to her personally to make sure she reads it, if not at Timmy’s then I’ll make an appointment to see her.
Not trying to discourage anyone from sending emails and letters! Even if most don’t get read past the subject line, as long as we are sending them, the volumes WILL get noticed (make sure you put FATCA in your subject line!)
@NativeCanadian, I forget what your shirt says? Is it still applicable post-election? If so, I would like to order one.
“Justin Trudeau, in a statement on Oct. 5, promised “a full and open public debate in Parliament to ensure Canadians are consulted on this historic trade agreement.
More recently, Trudeau and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke over the phone and agreed to promote the deal.
Chrystia Freeland, the new trade minister for the Liberals, will be responsible for ushering the deal through Parliament.
She told the CBC’s Metro Morning show in Toronto that the Liberal Government plans to have a full and open debate on the pact in parliament.”
Maybe someone can explain to me how to have an open debate to allow changes if Trudeau agreed to promote the deal?
This sounds exactly like Chretian on GST elmination and USA Canada free trade deal.
1 amazing thing with HST is that if you order something online from another province in HST provinces you pay HST, in GST provinces you only pay GST no provincial taxes. I am in Alberta so it does not matter but in BC, SK MB and QC you only pay 5% not 13-15% HST
TPP:
Senator Jeff Sessions , on the release of the nearly six thousand pages of the TPP, is appropriately ALARMED. He warns: This will end US Sovereignty ! And that the Fast Track Authority MUST be rescinded!
Do we expect that PM Trudeau will exhibit and express equal alarm that CANADA’S sovereignty is in jeopardy?
Because it certainly is and it does not take reading all 5,550 plus pages to find that out!
And, HOW on earth can on ‘promote’ a trade agreement that you have clearly NOT read?
Justin is new. Pretty and shiny. He and his family exhude quintessential Canadiana and they are lovely to see. Our hearts soar to see such a wonderful family as our First Family.
Yet, when these conferences begin and the real hard work of governing Canada presses on those shoulders, we hope and pray that substance emerges and those shoulders do not bend and break under the weight of it all.
For our future depends on it.
Re: TPP — hear, hear, Furious AC!
Yes, well said, Furious AC.
I compare it to finally getting out from under our parent’s authority to suddenly finding ourselves struggling to find a balance between partying to our heart’s content and more practical things like feeding ourselves and putting a roof over our heads.
The last thing we want is to move back home. Should be interesting.
The following website provides a convenient summary of forms of address for Canadian officials:
http://www.peacemakers.ca/research/Canada/FormsOfAddress.html#feds
Every cabinet minister will have two official addresses, one being their parliamentary office and the other their office as minister. (They will also have a constituency office in their riding.)
On the whole, I would direct correspondence relating to their ministerial responsibilities to their ministry office. You should be able to find this on the departmental website. Their parliamentary and constituency offices are the place to take constituency business.
Just completed my letters.
PM
my MP
Bill Morneau
Jody Wilson-Raybould
Diane Lebouthillier
Scott Brison
@Marie, don’t forget to address Justin as KING
I will be working on my letter to our new Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould not only from a First Nations person, but from a victim of the past government’s lack of respect for Canadians period. I have a few letters to get out to our newly elected representatives in Ottawa. I wonder how Navdeep Bains would tolerate Ottawa throwing him back to his home country if they wanted to bilk his life savings and tell Canada they MUST comply or else!!
@ Native Canadian
Navdeep Bains was born in Toronto, ON, after his parents immigrated to Canada.
Even better. How would Navdeep feel if his parents were thrown to their country of birth by Canada. We really need the feelings of other Minority peoples on this issue if we want full support. Lets place others in our shoes and see how they would feel about their government giving them away and forgetting the charter and what they mean to Canada.
I believe there is a cabinet minister that was born in Afghanistan. I forget which one.
@ Tim
Maryam Monsef, Minister of Democratic Institutions.
Harjit Sajjan was born in India as was Amarjeet Sohi.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harjit_Sajjan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarjeet_Sohi
Maryam Monsef was born in Afghanistan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryam_Monsef
Note: I have not done a review of spouses of backbench MP’s.
While not in cabinet Liberal MP Hedy Fry of Vancouver was born in Trinidad.
Liberal MP Joyce Murray of Vancouver also was born in South Africa.
Note: I am commenting as I search through for any US Person Liberal MP.
According to the early research I have done there are now upwards of 25 Liberal MP’s who were born outside of Canada. Interesting implications for place of birth taxation.
Since taking office have any of the Liberals spoken a word regarding FATCA?
Will the Arvay team attempt to make an agreement with the defendants given that we are dealing with a totally new government that has just taken office withing the last few days?
Marie,
The Arvay team, on behalf of Plaintiffs Ginny and Gwen, will be communicating soon with the Justice Department lawyers handling the defence of the lawsuit. We will make this communication public,
Thank you Stephen. Every approach helps.
http://maplesandbox.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Reply-Trudeau.pdf
Cross-posting from Maple Sandbox. This letter makes me hopeful.
Now the Canadian Bar Association is offering a day event re FATCA, OVDP/Streamlined, Renunciation, etc.
https://www.cbapd.org/details_en.aspx?id=ON_15BUS1102T
IRS Reporting and Enforcement Affecting Canadians: Avoiding or Negotiating The Maze
Business and Taxation Law | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Ontario Bar Association and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario have joined together to bring you this uniquely informative program and to network with accounting professional members of CPA Ontario.
Highlights:
Renunciation, a well know way out – perils and pitfalls
Relinquishment a little known way out – opportunities and benefits
FATCA, FBAR, OVDI, streamlined filing procedures – what to do if there’s no way out
FATCA, Court challenges to the legality of the Canadian/U.S. Intergovernmental Agreement
Register now and have a chance to meet, and reconnect with professionals in accounting and law.
OPENING REMARKS
Ed Upenieks, President, Ontario Bar Association
Carol Wilding, FCPA, FCA, President & CEO, CPA Ontario
PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS
Lauren Rachlin, Barclay Damon LLP – New York/Toronto
John Sinclair, CPA, CA, Collins Barrow Toronto LLP
SPEAKERS
Eileen Martin, Barclay Damon LLP – Buffalo/Toronto
Dean Smith, Cadesky and Associates
David Gruber, Farris Law Firm – Vancouver