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MasterCard Canadians IN Cuba Collide With the US Blockade OF Cuba Potential MasterCard Violations of Law Referred to RCMP Some Canadians travelling to Cuba have been caught up, as unwilling victims, in the US Blockade. Canadian Credit Unions, many of whom issue MasterCards have sold the processing rights on these cards to a US company that has chosen to abide by US laws over Canadian laws. The pain that this is causing is being felt by CU customers. The Canadian Network on Cuba thanks Mark Rushton for the following disseration. Please click here to see Mark's web page for more information. Do you bank at a Canadian Credit Union? Do you have a MasterCard from that Credit Union? Do you like to visit Cuba? Then you will be interested - and probably, more than a little upset - at the latest repercussion on Canadians of the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba. "Millions of Canadians whose MasterCard charge cards were issued by credit unions are now being forced to abide by U.S. economic sanctions that prevent use of the cards in countries including Cuba" This would seem to be a DIRECT and blatant violation of Canada's FEMA act, amended in 1996, which forbids Canadian subsidiaries of U.S. companies from abiding by the U.S. embargo of Cuba (note: in the past 12 years since the amendment, there have been ZERO prosecutions despite a number of prominent violations). And isn't it interesting that the impact hits MasterCard holders who bank with Credit Unions! This is a prime example of the concern many of us have with the permitted purchase of Canadian companies by U.S.-based parent firms. It is an issue of sovereignty that Federal governments since the implementation of FEMA in 1996 have not chosen to take up. Time to make some noise, folks. Here are a few addresses to get you started - any suggestions for better-directed letters are welcomed. Click here to forward them on. Also include your local media. Prime Minister's office Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, K1A 0A2 Fax: 613-941-6900 Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments PO Box 896, Station Adelaide Toronto, ON M5C 2K3 Telephone: 1-888-451-4519 Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). Jim Callon, Acting Commissioner Financial Consumer Agency of Canada 427 Laurier Avenue West, 6th Floor Ottawa ON K1R 1B9 Fax: 1-866-814-2224 For services in English: 1-866-461-FCAC (3222) For services in French: 1-866-461-ACFC (2232) Office of Consumer Affairs Web-based Form: (no public email available) Please click here to see Mark's web page for more information.