Tax Cooperation and Competition Conference tomorrow in Montreal

Tax Coop Montreal will be taking place tomorrow at the Musee des Beaux Arts in Montreal. It promises to be an action-packed day. Here is the conference program:

8:30-9:00 Welcome and Registration
9:00 - 09:10 Opening Remarks
9:10 - 10:15 COMPETITION AND TAXATION: A LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE: Katharina Becker,  Allison Christians,  Peter Dietsch and Lyne Latulippe
10:15 - 10:40 TAX COMPETITION AMID ASYMMETRICAL INFORMATION: Elise J. Bean
10:40 Break11:00 - 11:40 COMPETING WHEN YOUR COMPETITORS DON’T PAY TAX. INSIDERS’ VIEW: Steven Adams,  Tasso Lagios and Natalie St-Pierre
11:40 - 12:30 FROM GLOBAL TO LOCAL TAX COMPETITION: WHEN TAX COMPETITION HITS CLOSE TO HOME: Governor Sam Brownback,  Blanca Moreno-Dodson and Paul Waldie
12:30 Lunch14:00 - 14:35 THE OECD’S BEPS PROJECT UPDATE: Pascal Saint-Amans
14:35 - 15:10  IT’S LEGAL, BUT IS IT MORAL? TAX MORALITY AND ITS LIMITS: Brian J. Arnold,  Alison Holder and Jean-Pierre Vidal
15:10 - 16:00 OPINION LEADERS WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE: Brigitte Alepin,  Margaret Hodge and Lee Sheppard
16:00 Break16:30 - 17:45 CORPORATE TAX ON TRIAL: Dan Mitchell and Richard Murphy go head to head: Moderated by  Louise Otis and Jay K. Rosengard.
17:45 - 20:00 Closing Cocktail: Toward Tax Coop 2016

Call for US Citizenship-based tax/FATCA stories

If you are in the Montreal area and would like to speak to the media about your experience as a Canadian who is or was affected by US citizenship-based taxation, whether or not you are or could be impacted by FATCA, and whether you wish to speak anonymously or not, could you please get in touch with me either in the comments to this post (moderated, so just indicate if you do not wish publication) or through my contact info, here?

Tremblay: I fought the corruption but the corruption won

As expected, the mayor of Montreal has resigned under the pressure of the ongoing investigation into widespread corruption through all levels of Quebec's government.  The transcript of his resignation speech is here.  He continues to deny any personal wrongdoing, and claims he is the victim of "unbearable injustice."   That's an all-too familiar refrain, I am sorry to say, and shouldn't elicit much sympathy at this stage.  There is an awful lot of self-pity in this transcript.  Excerpts:

Was I sceptical? Yes. Did I ask questions? Yes. Was I vigilant? Yes. But unfortunately, it was only after the facts that I was given documents, files and internal memos, dating from 2004, 2006 and 2009. 

When I finally received the information, I asked the public servants and the councillors why I had not been informed about this, especially when the individuals in charge had done nothing. 

The trust I had on some, was inevitably betrayed; I assume the full responsibility. 

However, every time, as soon as I was informed of irregularities, collusion and corruption, I took action. The information was immediately given to the appropriate authorities. I shall produce the proofs at the right time and the right place. 

...I fervently hope that one day there will be recognition about the fact that I fought - often alone - this system of collusion and corruption as the Charbonneau Commission is revealing it had existed since at least 1988. 

...As for the allegations of collusion and corruption, I would have expected a more attentive and more urgent hearing from the government, especially when dealing with the obligation to award contracts to the lowest bidders. 

In politics, it seems that perception matters more than the truth. Especially when this perception is manipulated by multiple factors, not to say agendas, and when we're not given a chance to reveal the truth or, when it is stated, no one believes it. 

...I now must suffer an unbearable injustice. I never thought my life could be subjected to such a fury in a society of Law and Justice. But, one day, justice will prevail. Under these circumstances, I cannot help any more. The success of our city is much more important than my personal interest. 

...To those who relied and trusted me all these years, I want you to know that I have never betrayed you.

The sheer number of "I"s in the transcript is just too telling--I tried, I was duped, I was deceived, I am shocked, shocked at the allegations and the shoddy investigations and the lack of a chance to defend myself.  Certainly this story is not over.