No, not ours. Theirs.
Posting this subject by request. Yes, I do take requests. Somebody sent me a link to this SF Chronicle article. It’s a bit tougher getting into Canada now.
I used to live in Everson, Washington, just outside of Bellingham. I lived about seven miles from Abbotsford, a town about the size of Bellingham just across the border. As I was about 12 miles outside Bellingham, and 7 miles from the border at Sumas, I used to cross the border to do some of my shopping. There was a butcher I really liked, a couple of great bookstores, and thanks to the Sikh population there a great Indian restaraunt.
Well, now I’d have to take my passport along with each trip. Not only that, but my past arrests for civil disobedience might actually prevent my crossing. The article contains accounts of people being denied access for possession medical marijuana cards, as well as past DUI convictions, fraternity pranks, and ancient misdemeanor convictions.
So was this prompted by 911 or threats from so many liberals to move up there after Kerry’s defeat in 2004?
If you want to know if you are admissible into Canada visit this site.
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February 25, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Heraldo
Maybe Canada watched Bowling for Columbine and found their neighbors to the South are uptight and crazy.
February 25, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Turns out I’d probably be admitted. I was never actually convicted.
But my CD past did result in my bar license being delayed about 4 months.
February 25, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Anonymous
Please tell me you were not a tree sitter?
February 25, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Anonymous
Will the ACLU sue them to protect our civil rights?
February 25, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Anon 1:02 – No. That was never in the cards. I don’t do well with heights.
Anon 1:55 – Sue Canada? The ACLU is specificly geared to the Bill of Rights. Maybe you should approach Amnesty International.
February 25, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Anonymous
About the medicinal mary cards, man, like, could we, maybe,like, get doctors without borders, you think, to, you know,like,help out?
February 26, 2007 at 1:14 am
Anonymous
You may want to think harder about the implications of this if you wanted to …. go skiing at Banff. Or maybe go to a tree sit in the Canadian Rockies for some unknown reason or maybe visit Montreal or some other eastern Canadian city or maybe you wanted to go to some nude beach in BC or lets say you wanted to import some BC Bud. Then you would’t be laughing quite so loud would you?
February 26, 2007 at 1:17 am
Anonymous
There’s a nude beach in BC?
February 26, 2007 at 1:47 am
Anonymous
A very nude beach in BC. Google it. Not many people there at this time of year though. At least that is what I have been told. ;}
February 26, 2007 at 3:33 am
Anonymous
So the ACLU will get involved with our disputes along our southern border but not with disputes along our northern border? Am I missing something?
February 26, 2007 at 8:05 am
Eric V. Kirk
Well, one involves the US government, governed by the Bill of Rights, and one is the policy of another country, which presumably has its own constitution.
February 26, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Anonymous
It’s a little early, so correct me if I’m wrong, but if I’m undestanding what you’re saying, the ACLU will help citizens of other countries who have issues at our southern border but will not help American citizens who have issues at our northern border?
February 26, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Yes. Nor will the ACLU help victims of Hurricanes nor try to solve the problem of world hunger. Their charter purpose is to safeguard liberties under the Bill of Rights.
February 26, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Anonymous
Citizens of other countries are protected by our Bill of Rights?
(I know it’s hard for you, but try to avoid the sarchastic humor this time.)
February 26, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Yes, though they aren’t entitled to all the rights, they are entitled to the more basic rights.
February 26, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Anonymous
There’s something very wrong here in my opinion.
February 26, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Anonymous
And after all we’ve done for Canada.
February 26, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Eric V. Kirk
Write their consulate.
February 26, 2007 at 9:53 pm
ernie
Eric
Please tell me you believe we should be secure within our houses and borders! Please tell me you believe in the laws of the land! Please DON’T tell me you think the A.C.L.U. is good for this country! They have been wrong as many times as the United States Constitution.
Do you remember the little thing about admitting that blacks are human beings, and capable of voting? (Amendment 15)
How about women being smart enough to vote? (Amendment 19) I could go on, but you get the idea.
There are more mistakes in the Constitution than not. Thank God we had discovered the world was round before we wrote the Constitution or we would still be makeing decisions based on a flat Earth.
When you open your door for someone, don’t you make sure who it is first? When you find a complete stranger sleeping in your bedroom are you supposed to just accept him because he has been flushing to toilet. After all! Someone has to do it, and the kids don’t seem to want to!
It is not racism to secure our borders! It is self preservation. Please tell me you agree.
February 26, 2007 at 10:53 pm
ernie
Anyway, back on track. If a country is going to have principles, it must have standards. I think Canada’s border crossing rules aught to be pointed out to some of our “out of control” youth. Financial success is no sign of character.
Canada is right in adopting standards. You can still prove your “I’m a good citizen now” status. But, having a squeaky clean past is a fairly good indicator that you are squeaky clean now.
You just can’t wake up every morning an say “It’s a whole new day now, I haven’t done anything wrong all day”. and have it fly.
I might add that, so far, all of the terrorists trying to sneak across the Canadian border into the U.S. have been caught! The proof of the pudding, being in the tasting!
February 27, 2007 at 12:03 am
Mr. Greenjeans
Mon Feb 26, 02:53:00 PM
“I might add that, so far, all of the terrorists trying to sneak across the Canadian border into the U.S. have been caught! The proof of the pudding, being in the tasting!”
Ernie, how do you know that is true? Because they haven’t terrorized yet? Surely you aren’t serious. You’re joking, right? I sure hope so.
February 27, 2007 at 12:27 am
Eric V. Kirk
By the way, if I wanted to sneak into or out of Canada it would be a breeze. There’s actually a Cascades mountain trail that winds back and forth across the border, and getting across into the Mt. Baker forest in Washington State would be no problem to anybody healthy enough to hike. It’s why I think the terror thing re border security is a canard.
February 27, 2007 at 1:23 am
Anonymous
Your mom’s a canard Eric.
February 27, 2007 at 2:19 am
ernie
Drat, Eric!
“I was tilting on my High Horse of ignorance at full gallop, when, with the prick of your lance of wisdom you unseated me!
It was such a long thoughtful trip to the ground, and such a painful landing to realize I was wrong. Must I also apologize?”
It sounds, pretty much, like we are on the same page Eric.
My Metaphor about “When you find a complete stranger sleeping in your bedroom are you supposed to just accept him because he has been flushing the toilet. After all! Someone has to do it, and the kids don’t seem to want to!”… Means; When you find an illegal alien in your country, do you say it is okay, because he picks lettuce and no one else will.
As for “canard” that’s French for “duck”. Are you suggesting we duck the question or duck the terrorists. (Just kidding, Don’t answer) By the way, your easy way across the Canadian border is minus 39 degrees as we bicker.
February 27, 2007 at 2:27 am
ernie
Eric
Ernie statement:
“Thank God we had discovered the world was round before we wrote the Constitution or we would still be makeing decisions based on a flat Earth.”
Eric Question:
“Hmmmm. What would such a constitution look like?”
Answer;
Flat.
February 27, 2007 at 2:38 am
Anonymous
The American Indians failed to secure their borders and look what happened to them.
February 27, 2007 at 4:11 am
Anonymous
“The American Indians failed to secure their borders and look what happened to them.”
1 Casino’s.
2 A sovereign nation in the midst of a thriving economy.
3 The right to hunt and fish any time they want.
4 The right to keep illegal aliens off their land.
5 The right to a free education.
6 The right to free medical care.
7 No taxes.
8 No workers comp. insurance.
9 They only have to pay their debts if they want to do so.
10 They can’t be sued in a court of law.
Stop! You have me in tears! ….I’m just not sure who they’re for!
February 27, 2007 at 4:41 am
Eric V. Kirk
My mom’s a duck?
Hey ernie – no criticism from me. These discussions are precisely what I look for blogging.
February 27, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Mr. Greenjeans
Ernie, I’m not sure I understand you. At least it seems you can be reasoned with (I know, I know, don’t end a sentence with a preposition. No need to comment grammerperson).
Very nice responses from Eric also!
February 27, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Mr. Greenjeans
I’ve done a little research on this problem and according to Tourism British
Columbia (“Tourism BC” dbc@telus.net) you all can obtain a “pardon” and they will let you “in”.
For information regarding how to obtain a pardon (for felonies committed 10 or more years ago), please contact:
Clemency and Pardons Division, National Parole Board 1-800-874-2652 (Toll-free in Canada & the U.S.)
http://www.npb-cnlc.gc.ca
I didn’t check out what they do and what you have to do so it may be way too much hassle to get a “pardon”. I may just be easier to go ski in Utah or go to Paris or skinny dip in the Eel River or grow you own BC Bud.