CMDA cuts deal
November 20th, 2002
The Canadian Magen David Adom has successfully cut a deal that effectively reversed the CCRA’s decision to strip the organisation of its charitable status under the tax act, thanks in large part to an online petition started by Steven Rosenshein that garnered over 46,000 signatures. Of course, the fact that there was absolutely no reason to deny the CMDA, which provides ambulances, blood, and emergency medical care to people in Israel, could have something to do with it as well.
When Hezbollah is allowed to operate in Canada, but the CMDA is nearly shut down, then something’s backwards. And I mean more than just Chretien’s chronic foot-in-mouth disease.
But then, Magen David Adom should be rather used to being ostracized and unfairly targeted by now. Despite having tried for years to join the International Red Cross/Red Crescent, its application has always been denied. Why? Believe it or not, because its emblem, the Star of David, was voted down as an acceptable symbol (while the cross, the Muslim crescent, and the Iranian Red Lion and Sun were all deemed acceptable).
Yes, somebody needs to grow up.
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TO:
Steven Rosehshein
Steven:
As you may know, the petition you initiated a while back online has grown like a monster; the situation that you’ve described was old a year ago, apparently; please if you can take a look at the article below from teh Canadian Jewish News, which is online at website below. Please share this with anyone you sent info on this matter to … and please stop the petition. The “nuisance effect” is giving grief to the CMDA and other Jewish communal agencies, and it unnecessarily and inappropriately is spreading inaccurate / wrong / outdated information as people receive e-mails, and trying to be helpful, share it with others … :
http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=257
Thanks! — Arieh Lebowitz — see below
Ottawa not shutting down CMDA:
President
By PAUL LUNGEN / Staff Reporter
Canadian Jewish News
There is no truth to an Internet petition that claims the Canadian government is planning to shut down the offices of Canadian Magen David Adom (CMDA), the organizations national president said last week.
A petition hosted at http://www.PetitionOnline.com is badly out of date and misleading, said Joseph Bitton, the CMDAs Montreal-based leader.
Nevertheless, CMDA is getting a lot of problems because of the petition, Bitton said, and even the U.S. branch of Magen David Adom is seeing its supporters question whether they should be giving money to an organization they fear may be violating the law.
Its created some confusion and people wonder if something is wrong, Bitton said. Its not good for our organization or Israel.
The petition, which the Web site describes as one of its 10 most popular, voices opposition to the planned closure of Canadian Magen David Adom by the Canadian Government and the CCRA (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency).
A Web link to the petition is being circulated through e-mail lists, and so far, 157,865 signatures have been recorded, the Web site claims.
Bitton said at one point last year, CMDA was concerned that it might be closed. The organization fought a legal battle with the CCRA over the transfer of an old ambulance to the Israeli army, and the CCRA reportedly was also concerned that MDA ambulances were being employed in the disputed Palestinian territories.
But soon after, CMDA cut a deal with the CCRA to ensure better control over its funds, hiring two agents in Israel to supervise their disbursement. Use of the ambulances in the disputed territories is not prohibited by any law and will continue, Bitton said.
Were functioning normally and were issuing tax-deductible receipts for all donations, he said.
CMDA has contacted the petitions sponsor, but was told he could not get the petition removed. Bitton said CMDA is trying to contact PetitionOnline.com, but so far has had no luck.