Canadian Bravery!
 

BLAINE, Wash. ? Four Canadian border crossings were shut down Sunday as about 60 of Canada's unarmed border guards walked off the job after they were warned that a person classified as "armed and dangerous" may be headed into Canada.

The walkouts ? permitted when the guards perceive threats to their personal safety ? began mid-afternoon and stalled northbound border traffic for hours.

Canada's national CTV News said the walkout was triggered by a report from Homeland Security officials in the U.S. who told the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that a suspected killer from California, considered armed and dangerous, might try to enter Canada.

Willie Hicks, branch chief for trade operations on the U.S. side, said the Canadians told him only that they'd been alerted that such a person may be en route.

Faith St. John, an official with the Canada Border Services Agency, told CTV that management staff has been called in to deal with the huge backlog of cars and trucks waiting to cross into Canada. "As more managers arrive, more lanes will be opened," she said.

Canadian Border guards are not allowed to carry guns. It is a big issue with them. The walkout was more symbolic than anything.

Seems fair enough, if they won't let them carry guns to protect themselves they should have armed police officers stationed there.

why the hell are they not allowed to carry guns?

I always wondered why they are not allowed to carry guns.
If they were allowed to carry guns,
I don't think they would have walked off the job

Part of Harpers election promises was to allow our border guards to carry guns...he is now saying the process of allowing this is going to take 10 YEARS!!!..

gotta love politics.

I watched that on the news last night too. They said even if they had guns, it would be their right to walk off the job if they felt they were in danger.

What I don't get is why the US didn't step in and set up an out-bound search. They do that shit all the time when they are looking for drugs or money. I cross the border Monday through Friday, so I 'm glad that happened on a Sunday. Funyy thing is, we were thinking of going to Bellingham and doing a little shopping......glad we decided against that.

Nice to know there is still brave people on world.

Either way these fucks are responsible for our Border. I think it's fucking shameful that they walked away from it. Armed or not. I don't care who you are if you wear a uniform you've got a damn responsiblity.
If you don't like putting your self in those situations then walk off for good. :2 cents:
(Although part of the blame does lay on the Government for not arming them in the first place.)

Those border guards are a damn joke anyway. I've been through countless times where they haven't even checked my ID. Other times they ask dumb questions like, what's my business in Canada, how long I'm staying, where I'm staying... (these were asked, after I showed them my Green Canadian Government Official Passport.)
How about in order, None of your fucking business, as long as I feel like it, and wherever I fucking well want.
I'd rather have my car searched everytime before being asked those dumb questions once I've proven myself to be Canadian.

i don;t blame them for walking off the job, they don;t have guns. But also unlike the us border gaurds they are not trained as much. if they are going to get guns then they should not be allowed to walk off the job and they should have extensive training.
as for stephen harper not really being able to get the gaurds guns is that he has a minority gov, and can;t get lots of things done. the more liberal parties don;t want more civil servants with guns

The guards should have stayed put !
 

The very last thing a criminal will do when on the run is to make their location known... Back roads etc... This crap about guards with guns here in Canada is not the same as down in the USA... Even though our Canadian border guards don't carry guns the military and RCMP have their own districts that they manage very well...

Up until the mid to late 80s the RCMP used to the spy work/policing in Canada until a civilian body, CSIS, took over the intellegence aspect; such was intended to seperate the intelligence aspect from the policing do to questionable actions by the RCMP... Even though Canada is a peaceful nation overall; we have many X military types who are armed to their teeth... and they can be called 24/7... also they for what I can make out also manage CSIS with MI5 officers.

Canada is not helpless, check out our history at Camp X Historical Society website. Those guards who walked off their job should not be asked back to work !

Why did the guards not call RCMP or their local military base in an offical manor for extra security ??? Would not the US border guards do that ???

This is my :2 cents:

I agree, hire someone who wants the job, not some lazy ass union worker, looking for the afternoon off, with pay of course.

Its been a issue for awhile... Want to talk about Canadian bravery, then lets talk about our boys leading the way in Afganistan, kickin ass.

Bump for good content

numbnut, why dont you go and join the mounties...

Did my 10 in the Military thanks. :321GFY

Anyone that voted for Harper was suckered..should have stuck with the Liberals.. at least you knew when you were going to get screwed ;p

I lived in Ottawa back in the 80's during Mulroney's reign. You don't need to convince me of the Conservative penchant for lies.

heh.. I know Liberals had all their problems.. but honestly.. at least everyone knew where they really stood.. knew what BS to expect etc..
I think Im still just bitter lol

I thought it was kind of stupid too - how many border guards have been killed in the last year? 10 years? 100 years? why do they want guns so bad, if some crazy person comes through with a gun, let them go and call the police...

They knew the risks when they first applied for the job..go work at Mcdonalds if you don't like it.They should have guns but not the way to go about it

I read in the paper today that the British Columbia safety minister wants weapons training for border guards fast tracked. Apparently the government has already approved a plan to start arming border guards by next September.