Dear MP Mel Arnold, I write finding myself increasingly concerned about the perceived wall of defence against the quagga and zebra mussels at our federal border crossings.
Recently our family took a road trip along the southern border of our great province. We wanted to stop at the border to check out the inspection stations set up to stop the debilitating threat of the mussels.
To our dismay, after several minutes of discussions with two border officers, we found out that border officers are not mandated to stop boats coming into Canada.
They say they follow a couple of protocols.
First, they ask where the boat has been, and second if the owner has cleaned, drained, and dried their boat.
The border officers said they take the word of the boat owners and will let them through if they are not travelling from a high-risk area….without inspecting the boat.
These officers are our only line of defence from the United States to protect our great country.
We asked where the next closest border was, and headed out in search of a stronger answer.
Again, after sincere dialogue with the border officers, we were told that they have not been mandated to check boats coming into our country, so they don’t.
Then, we were asked by the officers if we had any pamphlets or information that they could pass on to boaters coming into Canada.
Pardon? Is that not the role of our borders, to inform and protect.
We were dumbfounded, yet, downright felt like we have been giving some major lip service and that our borders are protected. Not so the case.
Believe it or not, I have heard a story of a border inspection officer asking if anyone had any alcohol or cigarettes purchased in the U.S.A., and everyone said no.
The border officer took the word of the travellers coming back into Canada.
However, would you believe that people had told a little white lie, and were able to alleviate being brought into border questioning rooms, because they said No.
Later, that night, they were stirring in ice cubes, made from their local drinking water source, into their imported American liquor.
The clean, fresh ice cubes would be devastated if we do not truly protect our great nation.
We are eagerly awaiting a written response in a timely manner regarding this issue from the ministry.
Brad Swanson, Vernon
