Ottawa launches Alberta counterterrorism unit

[Azure]

After labelling certain environmental and first nations groups as extremists and radicals, Canada’s federal government, along with the country’s top law enforcement and spy agencies, have set up a counterterrorism unit in Alberta in order to protect the province’s natural resources and infrastructure.

The RCMP, which will lead the effort, would not say whether the team was assembled in response to specific threats, nor did it pinpoint which pieces of infrastructure it will focus on. However, Alberta hosts the vast majority of Canada’s oil assets, which have attracted international criticism and suffered security breaches. The province also has an extensive pipeline network, as well as upgraders and refineries, which protesters also target. Pipelines, for example, have been bombed in British Columbia.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...22/?cmpid=rss1

Good idea me thinks. Billions of dollars worth of infrastructure in Northern Alberta, so obviously something that needs more security. Glad the government is doing it and not some private security force.

[Daradon]

I would like this a lot more if they hadn't been taking on scientists and environmentalists. (and scientific environmentalists)

Police state. Thank god only 3 more years. Not going to be South Carolina.

I can't believe I voted for this loser.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I would like this a lot more if they hadn't been taking on scientists and environmentalists. (and scientific environmentalists)

Police state. Thank god only 3 more years. Not going to be South Carolina.

I can't believe I voted for this loser.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I would like this a lot more if they hadn't been taking on scientists and environmentalists. (and scientific environmentalists)

Police state. Thank god only 3 more years. Not going to be South Carolina.

I can't believe I voted for this loser.

[GGG]

Well it makes sense to have a counter-terrorism unit in Alberta.

We have already had pipeline bombings here and in BC. It is also a very easy target. There is little to no security at the sites and you can't defend a pipeline. And it is the economic center of Canada. It definately needs some sort of protection.

Really all this amounts to is extra funding for the RCMP in an area that needs it. I think article makes it sound much more ominous.

[Daradon]

Good I got your attention.

Now that the scientists are out, it's just a new force protecting the rules of the bases of the new economy.

If you were all about security the way you say you are, you wouldn't worry about the oilsands, and we would have a new force dealing with the trade between Mexico and Canada.

But no.

[Byrns]

We don't need a counter-terrorism unit, I mean Wiebo died didn't he? More government waste!!!

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Byrns

We don't need a counter-terrorism unit, I mean Wiebo died didn't he? More government waste!!!

I love how it`s been 15 years or something and the same argument happens.

1 guy. 1 freaking guy. 15 years ago.

Yes, major threat.

EDIT: He really pissed you oil guys off didn't he? Wow.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The argument we need to protect the resource is nice, except its the O&G companies who profit substantially more than the government does, so I think if they want to protect their profits, they should be the ones footing the bill, not us as taxpayers. This is simply subsidizing an industry that already makes billions in profits.

[burn_this_city]

There is an environmental justification for protecting these facilities. If someone breached the dike separating the tailings ponds from the Athabasca river it would be catastrophic. We get that you're pissed off about the government laying off the scientists, I hate it as well. It's really poor optics and makes the government look penny wise and a pound foolish.

[Daradon]

^^^ You are correct, that is a good point.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I love how it`s been 15 years or something and the same argument happens.

1 guy. 1 freaking guy. 15 years ago.

Yes, major threat.

EDIT: He really pissed you oil guys off didn't he? Wow.

It's a joke, sorry it went over your head.

EDIT: And I work in IT, not an "Oil Guy"

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The argument we need to protect the resource is nice, except its the O&G companies who profit substantially more than the government does, so I think if they want to protect their profits, they should be the ones footing the bill, not us as taxpayers. This is simply subsidizing an industry that already makes billions in profits.

This looks like a job for Blackwater!

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Byrns

It's a joke, sorry it went over your head.

EDIT: And I work in IT, not an "Oil Guy"

Sorry I should be on the ball, I busted 2 guys for not understanding sarcasm yesterday.

As far as oil guys go, 50/50 I'm right.

For anyone else though, it's a tired argument that means less than nothing.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The argument we need to protect the resource is nice, except its the O&G companies who profit substantially more than the government does, so I think if they want to protect their profits, they should be the ones footing the bill, not us as taxpayers. This is simply subsidizing an industry that already makes billions in profits.

That's a silly argument.
By your logic police shouldn't have anything to do with protecting any sort of business then.
I guess we can tell the CPS to not bother investigating when a small busness gets robbed. They're already making more profit off their shop than the city anyway, and using the CPS to protect them is just subsidizing an industry that already makes a ton in profits.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

That's a silly argument.
By your logic police shouldn't have anything to do with protecting any sort of business then.
I guess we can tell the CPS to not bother investigating when a small busness gets robbed. They're already making more profit off their shop than the city anyway, and using the CPS to protect them is just subsidizing an industry that already makes a ton in profits.

I was gonna go down this road, but lacked the drive today.

I suspect that none of these companies pay taxes.......

[burn_this_city]

I'm an "Oil guy" and the fact a teenage girl was killed on his farm and no one was charged pissed me off a lot more than him blowing up a couple well heads. His conspiracies about the industry poisoning his family and livestock were pretty laughable.

The Oil companies pay plenty of taxes, and their employees pay a lot of income tax. I love the ######ed nonsense people believe about evil oil and their stranglehold on government. I get it they are an easy target, but its approaching the birther level of stupidity.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The argument we need to protect the resource is nice, except its the O&G companies who profit substantially more than the government does, so I think if they want to protect their profits, they should be the ones footing the bill, not us as taxpayers. This is simply subsidizing an industry that already makes billions in profits.

So you want Blackwater patrolling northern Alberta? Because that is who the O&G companies would hire.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

That's a silly argument.
By your logic police shouldn't have anything to do with protecting any sort of business then.
I guess we can tell the CPS to not bother investigating when a small busness gets robbed. They're already making more profit off their shop than the city anyway, and using the CPS to protect them is just subsidizing an industry that already makes a ton in profits.

The problem is the Conservative government is establishing zones where rights don't apply.

By calling it 'terrorism' (Cheney anyone?) they establish zones that infringe on your rights out of court and in.

The funny thing is we really haven't had any problems that would even call for this.

2 pipe bombs in BC. MY DEAR GOD!!!

It's a way of keeping scientists and media out.

It's a blackout.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Speaking of silly arguments, the police don't have anything to do with protecting businesses. Private security companies do that. Police help after an incident, but the cops aren't at Wal-Mart making sure they don't get ripped off.