Any "anarchists" cross Canada border on morning of Stanley Cup riots?
From an email exchange between reporter Tyler Harbottle and Canada Border Services Agency regarding a rumor that 30 "anarchists" crossed the border the morning of the Vancouver Stanley Cup Riots. Harbottle, following up on a tip from a source, talked with three different communications representatives. Each promised to call back the following day. None did. When he followed up, he got a new communications represensative each time he called. Each said they hadn't seen the questions. He sent the questions again. On July 22, a CBSA communications representative Natalie Glister answered Harbottle's email:
From: "Glister, Natalie" <Natalie.Glister(at)cbsa-asfc.gc.ca>
Date: July 22, 2011 1:44:51 PM PDT
To: "'tylerharbottle(at)gmail.com'"
Subject: Your questions for the CBSA re Vancouver riots
Hi Tyler,
Please find below the CBSA response to your questions re the Vancouver riots:
Q1) I would like for CBSA to confirm or deny that about 30 people, some or all of whom were previously banned from entering this country during the Vancouver Winter Olympics because they were deemed "anarchists," crossed the border into Canada (presumably at the Peace Arch border crossing) ahead of the Stanley cup riot which took place on June 15 in Vancouver.
Q2) Does CBSA screen people at the border crossing on the basis of background such as involvement in anarchist groups?
Q3) Does CBSA's screening process change in the context of certain events, such as the Olympics or the NHL playoffs?
Q4) For people who were banned from entering the country during the Olympics, after that event concluded, was the ban lifted?
Q5) Was there any communication between CBSA and the Vancouver Police Department or RCMP pertaining to the possibility of a riot in Vancouver or regarding the large public gatherings taking place in Vancouver?
A 1,2,3,4)
While we cannot comment on any specific case, we can provide you with the following information on admissibility to Canada:
- All persons seeking entry into Canada must present themselves to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and may be subject to a more in-depth examination.
- Admissibility to Canada is considered on a case-by-case basis and is based on information that is available to our officers at that time of entry.
- The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) clearly defines reasons for inadmissibility. Several factors are used in determining inadmissibility, including involvement in criminal activity, health reasons, misrepresentation, or non-compliance with the Act.
- Most criminal convictions, felony or misdemeanour offences - including a conviction of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) - make individuals inadmissible to Canada.
- For a complete list reasons for inadmissibility under IRPA, please visit: www.justice.gc.ca / Immigration and refugee protection act / division 4. / s34 to s42.
A5) Please contact the Vancouver Police Department or the RCMP.
Anarchists aren't necessarily violent. Noam Chomsky describes himself as an anarchist. I wouldn't want him barred from Canada. While,the Vancouver police automatically blamed anarchists for the vandalism in Vancouver. Their speculations pro...ved false. In the old days they would have blamed communists. We live in a democracy..... so targeting communists, social democrats, conservatives, or Liberals because of a misguided assumption that they are engaged in thoughts that might lead to actions is scary .... it undermines our democracy.
I think the mayor and police chief were wrong to use the term "anarchists." The problem is, there are have been lots of anarchists, like Chomsky or Baukunin or Goldman, who did not advocate violence. There were a minority, Galleani and Czolgosz are examples, who believed in the "propaganda of the deed," as the term was before World War I--the bearded, bomb throwing image continues. But few (if any) contemporary serious anarchists are terrorists today.
Quit crying, Vancouver. It wasn't anarchists. You riot. You destroyed your own city. You threw a temper tantrum over losing a hockey game and embarrassed Canada on an international stage. And your refusal to take responsibility gives us no reason to believe it won't happen again. You've got a long way to go, Vancouver. Time to grow up and become a real city.