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I’m sure Stevie Spiteful wishes he could hand them over to Mitt Romney, but he has to make do with Obama. Boys and girls, this is what happens when budget omnibus bills are being shoved through without debate or proper study–most of us miss some pretty insidious stuff bundled in there. Apparently, Bill C-38 will be allowing the FBI and other US law enforcement to come into Canada and arrest Canadians.
The government is aware the prospect of Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arresting Canadians on their native soil is controversial.
“We recognized early that this approach could raise concerns about sovereignty, privacy and the civil liberties of Canadians,” RCMP superintendent Joe Oliver told the Senate committee on security and defence last week.
It’s not hard to see why parliamentarians concerned about democratic process are upset about the budget bill
He was discussing the “baby steps” used to introduce the concept – namely, the Shiprider integrated cross-border maritime law enforcement project that has been in place since 2009.
The new amendments in the budget bill will broaden the scope to land operations, where the perimeter security agreement signed by Stephen Harper and Barack Obama envisages integrated teams operating in intelligence and criminal investigation.
There are already 15 integrated border enforcement teams operating along the 49th parallel but the legislative changes would allow the FBI or U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to pursue suspects onto Canadian soil. Embassy magazine reported this week that aerial police surveillance has not been ruled out.
The legislation doesn’t completely hand the farm over to the Americans – suspected criminals apprehended in Canada could not be removed to the U.S.
Suspects can’t be brought to the US. Gee, what do you want me to say about that? Thank Gawd for small favours?
Of course, Canadian law enforcement wouldn’t be allowed to arrest Americans on American soil. So this is already uneven. If anyone thought Stevie wasn’t attempting to turn Canada into the 51st state of the union, well, he’s certainly given up more Canadian solidarity.
Also what does this have to with the economy or the budget?
Another thing pointed out that we are all missing is something else quite important.
…it also disbands appeal tribunals covering Old Age Security, the Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance programs, terminating 1,000 federal government appointees, in order to replace them with a much smaller Social Security Tribunal.
So, boys ‘n’ girls, it generally means it will be more difficult if not downright impossible to appeal any decisions regarding EI, OAS and CPP. In other words, accept this decision and like it!
Ain’t that peachy keen?
Now off to work, while I still have a job to go to…
H/T Boris
I’ve never had a problem with this kind of integration. It serves both sides that they are actually working together to apprehend criminals and it’s the kind of cooperation we need more of. That being said, the fact that this sort of action is hidden away inside the new C-38 Omnibus Budget is extremely insidious. There is no reason this should be in a huge budget bill so it can be pushed through without debate. Regardless of what I might actually agree with in this budget, which isn’t much actually, the items that don’t have to do with direct government spending to actually keep it functioning should be removed so it can be debated properly. The stuff that should be in it is program spending, salaries and other budgetary issues for the federal civil service. All else needs to be extricated and debated so Canadians can get a sense of what this government is looking to change.
ck Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 9:17 AM
It’s not a fair exchange though. I mean, Canadian law enforcement can’t go arrest Americans in the US. Regardless, even if the RCMP had those powers in the US, I still wouldn’t like it. The point is, Stevie gives more and more to the US and what do we get in exchange? Plus issues of privacy should be of concern, here.
I don’t want us integrated with the US–I’d rather live in a sovereign Quebec. American health care, military industrial complex, Imperialism, dumb war on drugs proven time and again an exercise in futility. Punish instead of rehabilitation, education, etc. All things inherited from the US–it’s a race to the bottom! No thanks.
Ryan, if you are such a fan of US Law Enforcement, please apply to immigrate. How soon will Canadians fall under the NDAA, meaning that US officials can assassinate and or incarcerate Canadian citizens on Canadian soil without due process, just like they already can to Americans on American soiled soil.
By the way, way back in the eighties I had a dispute with what was then UI, over whether I was out of work due to a labor dispute or not. It took months and required me to travel about 150 miles to appear before the “board” where upon I lost and would have had to wait months again (perhaps with last minute schedule changes like the first round) and travel 600 miles for the next level. I said to hell with it and let them recoup what they considered an overpayment the next time I had a claim. I can hardly imagine that reducing the tribunals will be helpful as the system was unsatisfactory already over thirty years ago.
They seem to forget that EI isn’t any kind of welfare, but a privately funded insurance program that the government robs, thus turning it into just another tax to mis-appropriate to build prisons or warmonger or subsidize corporations on workers’ dimes!