American Cops Don't Belong in Canada

[AdamSavage]

I'm personally against this 100%. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't allow our RCMP to do the same, so why should we ? This is Canada, not United States of Camerica. Pure BS, and I hope it never goes through.

A few years ago, Stephen Harper told us that by the time he was done in office, we wouldn't recognize Canada. How true, and troubling, those words have become.

In Harper's relatively short seven years running the country, we have seen the Americanization of our parliamentary democracy. We have an enemies list, fact free attack ads, and constant negativity and division.

We've also seen the Americanization of our justice system where facts and evidence are replaced by "gut feelings", and an obsession with retribution.

Now we are now witnessing the Americanization of our law enforcement. Armed American police officers will now operate on Canadian soil.

Bit by bit, agreement by agreement, Canada is giving away more and more in the name of trade. To Conservatives, none of this is a threat to our sovereignty, as if the very act of stating so makes it so.

But let us consider this fantasy scenario: RCMP officers stopping American citizens on the Buffalo side of their border. Picture the horrified expression of those resilient New Yorkers as they are forced to slow down on their Interstate highway so as to be greeted by a smiling RCMP officer who is to inspect their property, ask questions about where they live, where they've come from, and the like -- all part of a so called "pre-clearing" program.

Of course, this scene would never occur. The United States protects, obsessively, their sovereignty. But here in Canada, armed American police officers will now be able to stop Canadians, in Canada, inspecting, checking and asking questions.

Again, the Conservatives will tell us that an armed American cop in Canada is all about trade, jobs and security, not sovereignty. If this is true, then can we not expect to see Mounties stopping Americans on the Buffalo side?

I don't believe Canadians want American police operating and carrying guns in Canada. It's just not right.

Harper did promise though that when he's done, we won't recognize Canada. Perhaps we can all reminiscence about that when stopped and questioned by an American police officer, in our own country.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sean-casey ... 91387.html

[Bonita]

That's so stupid. Our cops need to focus more on whats going on here than whats going on there.

[Redith]

What the hell? As a semi law enforcement officer in the USA I gotta ask...why are we there again?

[Bulletdance]

I know a lot of police/rescue from here went to Canada to help after the train accident, but I didn't realize they were there regularly. Disaster aside it seems like a waste of tax payer dollars it's not as if Canada cannot handle itself or is causing any crime to come to the US. I'm hoping it's just some sort of joint training stuff, but who knows.

[Boven]

It's nothing really new. Customs and other (armed) US officers have been operating in the Toronto airport for years. Shucks, they're far better than the ones I've encountered in US airports.

[Sukurachi]

The issue is not whether they are better or worse than than police officers from one or the other country, or at this location or another.

The issue is that as American law enforcement agents, the question is "do the laws of Canada apply to these people?"

American government isn't widely known for releasing sovereignty in areas it considers "its own". There are serious questions as to whether or not American agents, within the borders of Canada - a sovereign country - would be accountable to Canadian law or not.

Canadian citizens are not allowed to carry weapons. These agents, foreigners on our soil, carry weapons. They are not duly mandated by the Canadian state to act as law enforcement within Canada's borders.

[Lisaara]

Whaaat the f***?! No...We got enough problems and crooks that live here. We dont need our law enforcement being in Canada. People hate us enough as it is.

[AdamSavage]

Whaaat the f***?! No...We got enough problems and crooks that live here. We don't need our law enforcement being in Canada. People hate us enough as it is.

They would have a heck of a time getting Canadians to give them respect, or even listen to them.

[Lisaara]

Whaaat the f***?! No...We got enough problems and crooks that live here. We don't need our law enforcement being in Canada. People hate us enough as it is.

They would have a heck of a time getting Canadians to give them respect, or even listen to them.

Is there some cosmic reason that the US tends to worry about EVERYONE ELSE but us?

[Nevish]

Whaaat the f***?! No...We got enough problems and crooks that live here. We don't need our law enforcement being in Canada. People hate us enough as it is.

They would have a heck of a time getting Canadians to give them respect, or even listen to them.

Is there some cosmic reason that the US tends to worry about EVERYONE ELSE but us?

I guess it's easier to not give a shit about your own country's problems when you're off bothering everyone else. :roll:

[Syleye]

I would ask that everyone remember that it is not the Police officers doing it is the politics on BOTH sides, so please do not take it out on them they go where they are told right, wrong, or indifferent.

[cowmuflage]

Whaaat the f***?! No...We got enough problems and crooks that live here. We don't need our law enforcement being in Canada. People hate us enough as it is.

They would have a heck of a time getting Canadians to give them respect, or even listen to them.

Is there some cosmic reason that the US tends to worry about EVERYONE ELSE but us?

They do seem to do that. Hell you guys came all the way down here to arrest someone who was not even from your own country XD Lets hope it never turns out like that! No one likes it when your own government and another's break your countries own laws :S

[Sukurachi]

Don't worry, no one here is suggesting it is the policemen's fault.

However, being non-citizens, they have no legal standing to stop, detain, or question anyone in Canada. I'm curious to see how this will turn out in the courts.

And obviously, they cannot force a Canadian citizen across the border for said questioning and detention. That would be extraordinary rendition, which would also not be legal.

[Syleye]

No I didn't think any one was, its just easy to forget whom to blame. I wonder if there really is a purpose to this, dose anyone know?

[cowmuflage]

To steal all the poutine.

[AdamSavage]

To steal all the poutine.

Noooo! They cannot have our poutine!

[Lisaara]

One more reason why I can't stand politics.

[AdamSavage]

Another article about it: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/07/30 ... 78240.html

[Rawr]

I live in AZ so hearing about corruption with cops is nothing new to me, but really its wrong for them to go into Canada for any reason.

[Sukurachi]