Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks had a role to play in the House of Commons’ latest minor brou-ha-ha on Thursday as Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair was taken to task for ignoring an RCMP security check on Parliament Hill. Here’s his contribution according to Hansard:
Kootenay Columbia
Conservative Party of Canada
Mr. David Wilks (Kootenay—Columbia, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, on May 23, 1873, in this place, an act establishing what would be referred to as the North-West Mounted Police Act was passed. Sir John A. Macdonald had a vision that a national police force would be used to calm tensions in the west.
Today, the RCMP was called on to calm tensions in the east. Safety on Parliament Hill is paramount. The Leader of the Opposition apparently does not think so. Then a police officer turns on their emergency lights, it means stop, not go through stop signs. Police officers are asked to do many things. One of the things they are not asked to be is mind readers.
If I was still a police officer and the Leader of the Opposition said, “Do you know who I am?”
My reply back to him would be “As soon as you give your driver’s licence I will.”
2013.06.13
Mr. David Wilks (Kootenay—Columbia, CPC): Mr. Speaker, “Don’t you know who I am?” That was the shocking outburst from the Leader of the Opposition when he finally pulled over for the RCMP after going through—
The Speaker: Order. The hon. member for Kootenay—Columbia has the floor.
Mr. David Wilks: After going through several stop signs and, worse, failing to stop for a police officer.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety tell the House about the importance of obeying the laws of Canada?
Ms. Candice Bergen (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I do want to thank that member for his service to our country as a member of the RCMP.
The Leader of the Opposition’s actions today show a complete lack of judgment, and they show a complete lack of respect for law enforcement. It is no surprise that that leader and his party vote against every piece of legislation we have to get tough on criminals.
Today, while we stand proudly as our Prime Minister, our leader is abroad making Canadians proud, the NDP know that their leader is running through stop signs and displaying disrespect for the RCMP who serve us on the Hill.
