NDP threatens another letter writing campaign... (en francais)

The NDP's press secretary should change his last name to Slapstick instead of Capstick.

Liberals Fail to Stop Guns at Border: 12 Years of Liberal Broken Promises

"People have 12 good reasons not to believe a thing the Liberals say - one reason for every year of Liberal broken promises," said Joe Comartin, MP for Windsor-Tecumseh.

I guess that's why you voted to prop them up for $4.5 billion in empty promies. What made you believe that they would honour their committments to you? Speaking of which, it's been six months now - how much of that $4.5 billion has been allocated or spent?

Buzz is telling NDP supporters to vote strategically for these same Liberals.

Jack Layton, realizing that he will never come close to forming a government is begging Canadians to give him the "balance of power" so that he can prop up this same group that you tell people "not to believe a thing the Liberals say".

Where was Brian and your committment to the border, the Auto Policy and a new crossing for Windsor when you voted to prop up the Liberals?

We appreciate all the nice letters you and Brian have been writing to Paul Martin and the various Cabinet Ministers on your MP letterhead. Unfortunately, the people of Windsor see the futility in your letter writing campaigns.

Brian, you really should read a little more before thumping your chest and claiming to be the only one working on an issue. The Conservatives have assigned Deputy Leader Peter McKay as the critic on Border and Security issues.

Win for Windsor

Security Has Become a Lost priority

MACKAY SHOCKED BY MCLELLAN'S ADMISSION OF LACK OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP

MacKay Welcomes Senate Committee Recommendations on Border Security
- From the Customs and Excise Union Website

Hansard
Mr. Peter MacKay (Central Nova, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the minister said it was not a problem. She called the Prime Minister's comments simplistic. Now we see from inspector Bruce Crawford of the Toronto guns and gangs task force that most of the guns came into Canada in cars, a few at a time, at the borders.

Mr. Peter MacKay (Central Nova, CPC): Mr. Speaker, border security is being predetermined and undermined by the Liberal government in Ottawa. The strategy is not based on intelligence or field work, but on quotas.

The government's border management plan sets artificial numerical targets for searches, overriding the goal for actually finding contraband. This padding of the numbers has been referred to by an officer as a public relations exercise. It focuses on increasing searches to boost the bonuses of managers rather than catching the crooks.

We know the Prime Minister likes phoney numbers, but why is the government jeopardizing the safety of Canadians and our border officers? Why do Liberals opt for optics over action?

Some guns are seized at the borders, but it is hard when the officials are working unarmed and alone.

Instead of trying to hide behind the government's failings, hectoring other people about Canada's problems, when is Canada going to properly arm, equip and give back to our border officials the support they need? Stop making up figures and do something about it.

Mr. Peter MacKay (Central Nova, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I will take the word of the border officials over that minister and her spin doctors every time.

Along with the flawed focus of the searches, the Liberal emphasis on the border is on quotas and collection of duties rather than the actual public security. There are over a thousand ports of entry in Canada and 250 unguarded roads. Because the RCMP detachments have been closed, the union proposes sidearms and patrols. Recently agents walked off the job rather than face dangerous, armed individuals.

Why is the government risking the safety of Canadians and front line officers? How can it expect to stop dangerous terrorists and drug runners--

Mr. Peter MacKay (Central Nova, CPC):
2005-06-16 14:20 (ORAL QUESTION PERIOD: Border Security)

Mr. Speaker, it is appalling that the Prime Minister will not get up and answer a question about this file.

Yesterday the Senate committee issued a scathing report about the Liberal government's inaction on securing key border crossings. Among the problems, border crossings remain vulnerable because of the lack of pre-clearance or reverse inspections. It will be six years after the signing of the smart borders declaration before a pilot project on pre-clearances will begin, let alone be completed.

The report says:

At that pace today’s children will have grey hair before reverse inspection is the norm across the country.

When will the government introduce an implementation plan for pre-clearances at the border crossings as--
Mr. Peter MacKay (Central Nova, CPC):
2005-06-16 14:20 (ORAL QUESTION PERIOD: Border Security)

Mr. Speaker, the all party Senate committee, including Liberal senators, said that the government was not serious about security. In fact, they say that security is failing.

Over 1,600 vehicles ran the border last year. RCMP detachments are being closed. In most cases police officers cannot respond in a timely manner to border calls because they are either not there or they are not close enough.

Our border officials have bullet proof vests, but they do not have sidearms to stop dangerous travellers. The Senate committee said they should.

When is the safety of our border officials going to come first? Why have firearms and the appropriate training not been made available to our front line security officers in our country?

That's just a few quick examples, mind you.

Save the rhetoric for another day Brian, and stick to the facts.