ACORN takes action across country to lower NSF fee once and for all!

Ottawa

This morning, Ottawa ACORN members met up to demonstrate for ACORN’s National Day of Action for Fair Banking to demand lower NSF fees. Despite the cold weather, our group came ready for action with fierce enthusiasm. Our leaders Marie-Lourdes Garnier and Debbie Staples addressed the group outside of Scotiabank at 2714 Alta Vista Drive, to speak about the harm caused by NSF fees and their predatory nature. Some members spoke out about their personal experiences with NSF fees and how these unjust charges affect them. After some chanting and excitement our leaders went inside Scotiabank, with a letter addressing President and CEO L. Scott Thompson with ACORN’s demands. However, upon entering, security quickly closed the door and only allowed one person inside. Debbie bravely entered to speak with the branch manager, to communicate our purpose and to ensure the delivery of our letter.

The group then braced in the cold and marched over to MP David McGuinty’s office, a short walk away. Led by Marie-Lourde’s impressive chants, our group attracted attention from cars and foot traffic; handing out flyers, waving signs and ACORN flags along the way. Once we arrived at the office, we were faced with a sign that notified us of David McGuinty’s absence. We were hoping to meet with him to address our demands, and get his signature to certify his commitment to taking the final steps to lower NSF fees down to $10. Nonetheless, our leader Debbie left his office a voicemail, and left the letter in his mailbox. The group then got together to take some photos in front of the MP’s office before wrapping up. It was a great example of ACORN member’s resilience and passion to take action, despite the obstacles in our way we do our part and continue on the fight!

Peel

Peel ACORN delivered demand letters to Scotiabank and Brampton Centre Liberal MP Shafqat Ali in support of our lower NSF campaign.

Hamilton

Hamilton ACORN and allies braved the bitter downtown winds for a 4-bank action to call for a cap on NSF fees! We started off at TD bank, where our leaders were locked out of the main bank but were able to hand off our demands to the security guard present, and kept up the energy as we marched to RBC. At RBC, management saw us coming and locked us out, so we left them a letter on their front door. As we proceeded to CIBC and Scotiabank, we had a wonderful escort in the form of the Hamilton Police Services to help us deliver our demands! 4 banks, 4 letters, and incredible energy from our leaders! Stop the greed, freeze the fees!

London

London members held a two part action, first rallying outside CIBC on Oxford St E where leaders called out the predatory use of NSFs destroying the lives of low-income families. When we attempted to deliver a demand letter, CIBC security refused to let us enter, but management came out to receive our demand letter. Despite the bitter cold and a storm warning in effect, members then marched down Richmond Street to MP Peter Fragiskatos’ office to deliver a demand letter to him as well. Throughout the march, members chanted loud and proud to the supportive honks and cheers of passers-by. When we arrived at the MP’s office, leaders were informed that Peter was unavailable but staff received our letter and agreed to pass it along to him.

Huge shoutout to everyone who braved the freezing temperatures to join us, and props to leaders Robin Slade, Ken DeJong, and Felix Krasnov for maintaining powerful chants for the entire long march down to Peter’s office AND back!!

Waterloo

Waterloo Region ACORN members met up on Zoom for a phone blitz to pressure the Federal Government to keep their promise and finish the legislation to cap NSF fees! After a brief review of the campaign and demands, members took to the phones to call Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and local MPs to demand they finish the job and cap NSF fees at $10! One member, Lise Lindsay, connected with staff from the Finance Minister’s constituency office, who agreed to try to set up a meeting between ACORN and LeBlanc! ACORN will be following up to get this meeting secured!

Toronto

ACORN members met at the RBC in the corner of Weston and Lawrence, with a large audience – half of which consisted of pigeons. The Royal Bank of Canada has made more than 4 billion dollars in profits in one quarter alone, which Michael Cuadra, co-chair of Weston ACORN and now wordsmith had a lot to say about that. We marched into the branch and kindly delivered the letter to the teller, then making our way to our next and final destination: MP Ahmed Hussen’s office. As history repeats itself, his office was clad and locked from the public once again. We taped the demand letter to his door, so hopefully he’ll see it (he probably already did from all our noise!)

New Brunswick

NB ACORN held joint rallies in Moncton and Fredericton, where ACORN members gathered to remind the government of their promise to lower NSF Fees to $10! Banks make billions on Canadians for being poor, and this needs to be put to an End! Members in Fredericton talked with MP Jenica Atwin who agrees this legislation needs to be passed before the next election, so lets get it going!
Make your voice heard alongside ours, and tell the Federal government to LOWER YOUR FEES!

BC

BC ACORN members took bold action to demand an end to predatory NSF fees! We marched straight into RBC and CIBC, chanting and demanding they voluntarily lower NSF fees to $10 and implement other regulations. Right now big banks in Canada make billions by punishing their lowest-income customers with NSF fees as high as $48. Feeling pressure from ACORN–and from their own customers in line who showed support to our demands– bank staff had no choice but to accept our demand letters addressed to their CEOs!
From there, we kept the pressure on, marching to the office of Liberal MP Randeep Sarai to deliver a clear message: Sealing the deal on lower NSF fees must be a TOP priority when Parliament resumes! The regulations are written—now we need action!
Banks are profiting off poverty, and we’re not backing down until they stop. Stay tuned—this fight isn’t over!

Alberta