Eritrean consulate in Toronto forced to stop charging 2 per cent ‘diaspora tax’
Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir welcomes Eritrea's President Issaias Afewerki (centre L)
at Khartoum Airport May 26, 2010. Afewerki was in the country to attend the swearing-in ceremony
of President al-Bashir.
Refusal to pay results in the withholding of basic documents such as educational records and birth and marriage certificates. Family members in Eritrea find their applications for business licence renewals declined. Even those who need nothing from the Eritrean government are approached and intimidated by agents of the regime to pay the tax."
The National Post is now reporting that the federal government has convinced Eritrea to stop collecting the levy after threatening to send their only diplomat in Canada home.
"Canada will consider the embassy's request for renewal of his accreditation once it has received written confirmation that Eritrea has complied in full with the department's expectations … and therefore the consulate has effectively ceased to collect the 2 per cent' recovery and rehabilitation' tax and the donation for national defence," read the note, by the Department of Foreign Affairs as reported by the National Post.
"If Mr. O. Micael continues to carry out tax solicitation and tax collection activities in spite of Canada's express disapproval and view that such activities are incompatible with the normal performance of consular functions, it will expect a notification from the Ministry stating that such person has been recalled from Canada."
By Andy Radia | Canada Politics – Fri, 21 Sep, 2012
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