Press Release: Western Union and Money Mart’s money transfer fees take 20% of money sent to drought-ravaged East Africa
Posted July 27, 2011
For immediate release
New Canadians, temporary foreign workers, and others struggling to support loved ones abroad are fed up with the high cost of remittances and money transfers.
The ongoing famine in Somalia, and devastating drought in neighbouring Kenya has one person especially upset. For Pascal Apuwa – a leader in the national campaign for Remittance Justice – these twin crises’s have made the call for reducing remittance rates ever more urgent.
“Like many new Canadians I send whatever I can afford to send back to my friends and family back in East Africa – and for every dollar I send Western Union gets 20 cents. I send 100 dollars to help feed people I love, and a massive company keeps $20. That’s wrong, and they need to lower their charges immediately. At this point, because of the drought, that money they are taking from my pocket could save someone’s life!” Pascal Apuwa from Burnaby, BC explains.
For immediate release
New Canadians, temporary foreign workers, and others struggling to support loved ones abroad are fed up with the high cost of remittances and money transfers.
The ongoing famine in Somalia, and devastating drought in neighbouring Kenya has one person especially upset. For Pascal Apuwa – a leader in the national campaign for Remittance Justice – these twin crises’s have made the call for reducing remittance rates ever more urgent.
“Like many new Canadians I send whatever I can afford to send back to my friends and family back in East Africa – and for every dollar I send Western Union gets 20 cents. I send 100 dollars to help feed people I love, and a massive company keeps $20. That’s wrong, and they need to lower their charges immediately. At this point, because of the drought, that money they are taking from my pocket could save someone’s life!” Pascal Apuwa from Burnaby, BC explains.
ACORN Canada leaders from Burnaby BC will be holding an action at a Money Mart location that acts as an agent for Western Union. Pascal will be leading a small contingent of remittance users who are calling for lower fees and real government oversight on the predatory remittance market.
When: 12 Noon, Wednesday July 27th, 2011
Where: Western Union Agent – Money Mart – 7088 Kingsway in Burnaby, BC
ACORN Canada launched its Remittance Justice campaign in December of 2010 with a report that detailed how much government oversight was needed in the massive remittance market.
To speak with ACORN Canada spokesperson Pascal Apuwa or to get a copy of ACORN Canada’s reports on the Remittance Industry please contact: John Anderson – 778 385 4385 bcacornva@acorncanada.org
Please see this article from the Ottawa Citizen about Pascal Apuwa’s voyage to Ottawa to speak on the Remittance Justice Campaign: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Group+seeks+money+transfer+fees/4973037/story.html