Press Release: ACORN Canada calls on Western Union to suspend remittance fees on transfers to flood ravaged Philippines

ACORN Canada, a national membership organization of low & moderate income families, is calling on Western Union to suspend their fees on remittances to the Philippines where a recent tropical storm has caused widespread flooding. Members of ACORN Canada have begun circulating an online petition calling on the remittance giant to suspend their fees until the crisis ends. Fees for remittances sent by Western Union can reach as high as 20% of the money sent1 - with Canada being one of the largest providers of remittances to the country. The petition is available at: http://www.change.org/petitions/western-union-suspend-fees-to-floodravaged-philippines Quick Facts: Over $17 billion in remittances flow into the Philippines each year 2 Canada is the 4th largest provider of remittances to the Philippines 3 Over 400,000 Filipino-Canadians reside in Canada 4

With over 120,000 families affected by the disaster and a death toll estimated to be approaching 1000, Western Union should act immediately and suspend all fees for remittances headed to the Philippines. Contact: Press Contact: Judy Duncan Cell: 416-996-6401 Office: 416-461-5322 Email: canadaacorn@acorncanada.org

### ACORN Canada is an independent national organization of low and moderate income families. With 35,000+ members organized into 20 neighbourhood chapters in 6 cities across Canada we've been organizing to win a Canada where low and moderate income families have their voices heard and their power felt since 2004. www.acorncanada.org

1http://www.acorncanada.org/payday-lending-a-remittances/336-report-acorn-canada-calls-for-lower-

remittance-costs 2 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/LH19Ae01.html 3 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/LH19Ae01.html 4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_Canadian