Stockwell Day: Busy guy
Besides his eye-opening briefing on the real numbers behind the gun registry, the new Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day has many other irons in the fire:
Stockwell Day is considering a U.S.-style armed border patrol to stop "bad guys" getting into Canada.
The newly appointed Public Safety Minister has solicited proposals to bring an armed presence to the border.
One of the ideas being considered is for a separate armed border patrol, Day said in an interview.
"The fact is we don't want border guards to feel they have to leave their posts because they feel unsafe," he said.
Last month, about 20 unarmed border officers fled from their posts at the Peace Arch border crossing after they learned that two U.S. murder suspects were headed their way.
Twelve years of Liberal government -- nothing. Stockwell Day hasn't been minister for twelve days and already there is honest discussion.
But that's not all.
On Air India:
Yesterday, he also confirmed plans to go ahead with a full, judicial inquiry into the Air India disaster.
"We owe the families that, and we owe that to Canadians," he said.
On terrorists:
Day also pledged to list the Tamil Tigers as a banned terrorist organization in Canada.
On the cartoons:
Day also said yesterday he understands Muslims are upset over the publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. But he said free speech allows people to question all religions.
Skew my story on Skewz.com
Rate political news for their bias, read related stories, and leave your own skewed commentary
Search for more opinions from Canadian bloggers on these related keywords
Sphere presents related news articles and blog posts
Sphere It!
Comments
Whaaa? 1 Harness Bull every 200 yards for the 5,000 mile-long border? Is Stockwell nuts?
Posted by: Raymond Hietapakka at February 17, 2006 10:24 AM
Finally, someone who will do someting for the right reason and not because of some B.S.
Posted by: sherwood baker at February 17, 2006 10:28 AM
Day would know a little something about having his faith held up to public ridicule.
Posted by: Occam's Carbuncle at February 17, 2006 10:32 AM
Go for it Stock, you're on the right track!
Posted by: Herman at February 17, 2006 10:42 AM
And, predictably, his initiative about the border is labelled "US-style". Recently I travelled in the UK, where "US-style" armed police patrol Heathrow airport concourses; in France where "US-style" policemen carry sub-machine guns; and in Scandinavia, where----yes, you guessed it! And try Venezuela, the most anti-US country in Latin America.
Of course, as Bill Graham has pointed out, Harper and Day et al have no real mandate to govern and should avoid doing anything the Liberals wouldn't do. You see, says Graham, they have no mandate because they are 'not-Liberals'---can you imagine such creatures?
The media are determined to undermine Harper before he has had a chance to show Canadians that there is an alternative way to conduct a government. The CBC is pulling out all the stops because it arrogantly believes that it can discredit Harper and help the Liberals back into power in a few months. Ditto Can-West and CP.
Posted by: Patrick B at February 17, 2006 11:12 AM
The media may want the Liberals back in power but they will not have that option once the real numbers come out for all of Canada to see, I think PMSH is handling them, the media, just as he should.
Posted by: Platty at February 17, 2006 11:27 AM
I'm impressed, especially by the diplomatic way Day has differentiated himself from his colleagues on the issue of freedom of speech in Canada. I hope he brings all these initiatives to fruition.
Posted by: Ontario Conservative at February 17, 2006 12:29 PM
He should change his name briefly to Talkwell Day. About 1 day is all he's going to get. All he's done is said what CPC supporters want to hear. How about for starters let's hear a plan and implementation for the border crisis, we all know armed officers are required.
Where's the honest discussion?
Will the real Stockwell Day please stand up and put your foot in your mouth so that we know it's really you.
Posted by: Liberal Ron at February 17, 2006 12:58 PM
You're having that honest dicussion now Liberal Ron and it only took twelve days.
Posted by: Brian J. at February 17, 2006 01:32 PM
Lieberal Ron:
You almost had it right.
He's said what Canadians have been waiting 13 years for their government to say.
BTW
Any thoughts on the odds of Elections Canada deregistering the liberal party over findings in the Gomery Inquiry?
Posted by: gimbol at February 17, 2006 02:08 PM
OK then here's my math. 5,000 mile border, armed guard every 200 yards, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
= 188,580 armed officers
at an average salary of $50K per year not including weapons, ammo, benefits and pensions
= $94,290,000,000.00
How does Stock propose to pay for this?
I know this is ridiculous but when I present a plan to either my CEO or CFO I have to do all my homework, not just go to a meeting and say things are going to improve in this area or another. He's had lots of time and all we get is rhetoric.
Posted by: Liberal Ron at February 17, 2006 02:22 PM
gimbol...I would bet my life savings that Elections Canada will never de-register the Liberal Party.
If they did they would have to the same to the Conservatives. The same type of corruption was rife during the Mulroney years.
Posted by: Liberal Ron at February 17, 2006 02:27 PM
With the new government, we can anticipate lots of media stories with "US-style" prefix codes.
This morning in Vancouver I actually saw two US-style police officers.
I knew they were US-style cops because they were carrying guns, wearing uniforms and driving a marked police car. Just like in the US !!!
Police.
With guns.
In our cities.
In Canada.
I'm not making this up.
Oh and contrary to that stated in the media article, the Air India jet did not "crash into the sea"...it was blown out of the sky by a terrorist bomb. A bit of a difference.
Posted by: Bruce at February 17, 2006 02:52 PM
Hey LiberalRon, did you notice, according to your math, We could have an armed border guard every 200 yards, for the same price as the gun registry?
Posted by: rob at February 17, 2006 03:53 PM
LiberalRon:
Guards every 200 yards? If I went to my Deputy Minister with that policy assumption, I'd have to go look for a job in the private sector.
It doesn't take a lot of homework to figure out the border has crossing points with customs and immigration personnel. You arm these folks (or some of them).
And a border patrol doesn't involve stationary guards every 200 yards. The key word here is "patrol." They're mobile. We're talking about reasonable border protection here, not a Maginot Line or the Great Wall of China.
Here's two words for you to research. "security technology"
He's had a lot of time? Thought they were just sworn in. It's the Grits that have been blundering around for 13 years on this issue.
Posted by: John the Mad at February 17, 2006 04:22 PM
Liberal Ron said
OK then here's my math. 5,000 mile border, armed guard every 200 yards, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
= 188,580 armed officers
at an average salary of $50K per year not including weapons, ammo, benefits and pensions
= $94,290,000,000.00
How does Stock propose to pay for this?
About the same as the yearly cost for the gun registration fiasco.
"Except it doesn't make you feel all warm and fuzzy". Liberals..All fluff and puff..If it sounds good it must be right..especially if it doesn't mean more than pulling out the old cheque book.
Posted by: tommyboy at February 17, 2006 06:11 PM
Wow. A Liberal having negative comments about the Conservatives and anything they may do. It is quite sad to see the state of Liberal supporters and how their entire world is upside down as their mesiah is no longer around to diligently guide them.
Comments such as "About 1 day is all he's going to get" are simply asinine and clearly are an indication of the bitterness Libs feel that now they have been tossed. I believe they are shocked that all Canadians do not hold dear "Liberal Values".
Posted by: Ownshook at February 17, 2006 06:25 PM
Liberals will always have an advantage in any election, because their platform is always written by Ipsos-Reid.
Because they don't have a fixed platform, they can always run on the popular issue of the day.
Conservatives have a definitely conservative platform and say it is right for Canada.
NDP have a definitely socialist platform and say it is right for Canada.
Liberals have no platform other than buying off as many suckers as possible with the poll-du-jour and say it is right to keep them in government forever.
Every once in a long while, however, events conspire to leave such a bad taste in the electoral mouth, that they hold their nose and vote the rabble out.
I admit I'm a pessimist, but even if the Conservatives clean up government, pay down the national debt, and cancel Income Tax, the Liberals will be back armed with more polls and a new platform that says "Give the people what they want".
What's wrong with that you ask?
It appeals to our selfishness.
Too few people actually believe we should do what is best for society.
The Liberals understand this, and come to every elector with a smile and a cheque book.
Posted by: Scott Merrithew at February 17, 2006 09:17 PM
From Neal News:'Osama Bin Laden' Buys Ticket On Via Rail. Maybe Stock should hire this guy. Nothing like a headline to get you fired up.
Interesting that this occured under Peltier's watch.
Posted by: Cheri at February 18, 2006 12:41 PM
U.S. style side arms or socialist sub-machine guns like the old DDR ? Trudeau had a thing for Honeker.
Posted by: Bernie at February 18, 2006 02:38 PM
Stockwell, where is my money? The honest thing for you to do would be to pay back the people of Alberta for that petty lawsuit of yours and only then could you talk about cartoons, air India, terrorists and gun registration. How about justice for the people of Alberta?
I agree custom officers should be armed, they need protections. As for border patrols, get the police to do it. Growing up on the border years and years ago, the RCMP did it then. What's wrong with them doing it now? We don't need people stationed every 200 meters as suggested, infrared detectors or satellites surveillance would be sufficient along with rapid deployment of RCMP officers by helicopters.
One more thing, the protection of Canada’s sovereignty, isn’t that the job of the military?
Soldiers with guns on our border, what a slogan, I’m not making this up!!!! Now what would the Americans think of that? Maybe we could invade them and take back the land that was stolen from us.
Better still, I have an other idea; how about a wall with watchtowers and guns pointed at them… have I seen that somewhere else before? How about East & West Germany, the Mexican border, Israel and the Great Wall of China. Heck, Congressmen and Senators in the States are already talking about one, let’s beat them at their game and build the wall first. That's the "US-style".
Posted by: marcel at February 18, 2006 05:29 PM
 
|
|
