Sean Casey
8/2/2013
Huffington Post
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.
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