Tequila tantrum adds to Tory woe: Second cabinet minister loses cool in airport - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

RedHot25 · 03-19-2010, 12:46 PM

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...318?hub=Canada

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs...rticle1505756/

According to CTV, Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn had a bit of a temper tantrum when airport security would not let him carry a bottle of the Mexican fire-water onto the plane at the Ottawa airport in February.

When security guards told him he could not carry the bottle on to the flight, CTV reports, he demanded they empty its contents in his presence. The network says the argument became so heated that security almost called the police.

This revelation, of course, comes as Helena Guergis continues to be berated in the Commons for her own recent meltdown in the Charlottetown airport.

nik- · 03-19-2010, 12:50 PM

Demanding it be dumped out seems pretty reasonable to me, I wouldn't want a stupid regulation resulting in my bottle ending up in the cupboard of some x-ray jockey.

Devils'Advocate · 03-19-2010, 12:57 PM

Why did he think he could get through security with his alcohol? Everyone and their dog knows you can't get through even with bottled water....

Tron_fdc · 03-19-2010, 12:59 PM

As soneone who flys quite regularily (I'm in an airport loungs right now, actually) I can see why scurity gets annoyed. Just imagine your job if every time you asked someone a question you got sneered at or berated?

I find that if you comply with whatever they ask, smile, and generally be nice they're a lot more accomodating to you. I also don't have a lot of sympathy for people who don't know the rules (which are quite clearly marked when you buy your ticket, check in, and approach security). All you're doing is holding someone like me up, who is ready to go through security as quickly and as painless as possible.

Besides, it's not like these carry on restrictions are new. They've been around for what, 8 years now?

mykalberta · 03-19-2010, 01:13 PM

Politics might get alot more interesting if there is an election in a month after the Torries refuse to release the docs recently requested.

Savvy27 · 03-19-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I find that if you comply with whatever they ask, smile, and generally be nice they're a lot more accomodating to you. I also don't have a lot of sympathy for people who don't know the rules (which are quite clearly marked when you buy your ticket, check in, and approach security). All you're doing is holding someone like me up, who is ready to go through security as quickly and as painless as possible.

Might that be because you're doing whatever they tell you to?

Komskies · 03-19-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik-

Demanding it be dumped out seems pretty reasonable to me, I wouldn't want a stupid regulation resulting in my bottle ending up in the cupboard of some x-ray jockey.

Agree 100% here. If they're going to confiscate it from me and I'm not getting it back, they better pour it out in front of me. It's not the fact that they're confiscating it - because by all means the rules state you can't take liquids in your carry-on over 30ml or whatever it is - but I wouldn't want some airport security guard taking home my tequila as free loot. If I can't have it, nobody can.

My friends dad used to work at the airport and every couple weeks he would bring him home a giant freezer bag full of confiscated bic lighters.

Tron_fdc · 03-19-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Might that be because you're doing whatever they tell you to?

Absolutely. I can breeze through security because I'm not being an a-hole to them. I see people all the time piss and moan about removing shoes, laptops, belts, the metal detector going off, whatever. Trust me, it only makes it worse if you're a dick.

I saw a guy in Australia last year grab a microphone from behind the counter and got on the PA system, telling everyone to "lodge a protest with Qantas" because security was taking too long. Guess where he ended up.....

Bertuzzied · 03-19-2010, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Komskies

Agree 100% here. If they're going to confiscate it from me and I'm not getting it back, they better pour it out in front of me. It's not the fact that they're confiscating it - because by all means the rules state you can't take liquids in your carry-on over 30ml or whatever it is - but I wouldn't want some airport security guard taking home my tequila as free loot. If I can't have it, nobody can.

Why not? if you are stupid enough to try and bring that as carry on why can't they confiscate it and have a party with it.

Time for Harper to pull some more strings. Maybe he should bring in Anders to diffuse the situation.

bcb · 03-19-2010, 01:49 PM

It's often said that when American Customs siezes contraband Cuban cigars, they incinerate them, one by one. I can totally see how the Minister might ask that the bottle be dumped in front of him.

Personally if it were me, I would have said thank you, turned around and staggered back to security 30 minutes later.

Finally, how come when Liberal Cabinet Minister had their moments of air/airport rage, it wasn't front page news? Hmmm...

Tron_fdc · 03-19-2010, 01:52 PM

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n1890143.shtml

Anyone want a deer antler? Used sex toy?

FurnaceFace · 03-19-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Might that be because you're doing whatever they tell you to?

I think it's more because you're following the rules and the easier you make it for them to do their job the less hassle you will get.

For example having your liquids out, not wearing a belt, jacket in hand, popping your watch off, wallet and keys in your jacket and having your laptop out by itself means one less person to have to have to frisk and screams to them "knowledgeable traveler".

It seems this guy thought he was special or something. If he's really worried about them taking the bottle then he should have requested it back, and gone and dumped it in the sink himself or handed it to one of his handlers to deal with. But really, does it matter? If you're not going to get to enjoy it because you were an idiot, why not let someone else have it? Consider it a stupid tax.

RedHot25 · 03-19-2010, 02:29 PM

So, its hard to tell exactly from the story, but is the greater part of interest to this story that it was ok/somewhat ok because the security wouldn't dump it out in front of him, or according to this: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...318?hub=Canada

Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn caused a fuss when airport security stopped him from carrying a bottle of tequila onto a plane in Ottawa, just four days after Helena Guergis berated airport employees in P.E.I., CTV News has learned.
Blackburn wanted to bypass a rule that all Canadians must follow: You cannot pack containers filled with more than 100 millilitres of liquid.
When security at the Ottawa airport told Blackburn he would have to give up his bottle of tequila, sources say he asked that the bottle be kept for him.

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/201...-security.html
Blackburn's statement comes after a CTV report quoted sources saying Blackburn tried to circumvent airport security rules by asking the bottle be kept for him and subsequently became involved in a heated argument with security officials when they refused his request.

I.e. is the issue the "dump it in front of me part" or is it more of "he tried to get a bottle of tequilla on the plane and got quite grumpy when they wouldn't keep it for him"?

FlamesAddiction · 03-19-2010, 02:33 PM

Probably spoiled as a child and now has entitlement issues. Actually, a pretty common trait among politicians.

4X4 · 03-19-2010, 02:48 PM

Not only do I think that the guy does not deserve the peace of mind knowing that some security staffer got to keep the bottle, but I'm also glad that the security staff isn't stupid enough to just start pouring out bottles of stuff.

Just an out to lunch example here, but I used to work in a coatings factory with some pretty bad chemicals. Ammonia (the hardcore industrial stuff, not Windex) is absolutely brutal. Just a tiny whiff of the stuff and it feels like your lungs are melting. If airport staff were to go around satiating every desire to see containers opened and dumped out (into what? The garbage can?), it wouldn't be long before some a-hole showed up with a "bottle of Tequila" full of ammonia or something.

This guy is stupid enough to think that the rules don't apply to him. I agree with FurnaceFace... Consider it a stupid tax.

FlamesAddiction · 03-19-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Not only do I think that the guy does not deserve the peace of mind knowing that some security staffer got to keep the bottle, but I'm also glad that the security staff isn't stupid enough to just start pouring out bottles of stuff.

Just an out to lunch example here, but I used to work in a coatings factory with some pretty bad chemicals. Ammonia (the hardcore industrial stuff, not Windex) is absolutely brutal. Just a tiny whiff of the stuff and it feels like your lungs are melting. If airport staff were to go around satiating every desire to see containers opened and dumped out (into what? The garbage can?), it wouldn't be long before some a-hole showed up with a "bottle of Tequila" full of ammonia or something.

This guy is stupid enough to think that the rules don't apply to him. I agree with FurnaceFace... Consider it a stupid tax.

Not just that (although it's a great point), but if I am behind him in line, I don't want to stuck there in line, and possibly made late, just so some arse can have his ego satisfied. Like security is just supposed to leave their post, take the guy to a sink somewhere so he can watch them dump the bottle.

Coincidentally, I had a bottle confiscated from the Ottawa airport before. No big deal.

Devils'Advocate · 03-19-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcb

Finally, how come when Liberal Cabinet Minister had their moments of air/airport rage, it wasn't front page news? Hmmm...

When was this?

bluejays · 03-19-2010, 04:36 PM

I absolutely hate politicians, so I really have no vested interest in defending the guy, but how the heck are so many of you defending the customs officers? They're the biggest meatheads in the industry. You think the average person would have even been given the option of holding it until they came back from their trip? They'd have told the average person to hand it over and move on by without a peep or they'd be accused of assaulting an officer. I had a friend who worked customs in Montreal and he would never pay for bottles simply because of all the kids coming back from Cuba with too much booze. The politician was certainly dumb to not realize you can't bring alcohol on board, but his demand was totally reasonable. Who wants some goof taking your alcohol?

FlamesAddiction · 03-19-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleury

I absolutely hate politicians, so I really have no vested interest in defending the guy, but how the heck are so many of you defending the customs officers? They're the biggest meatheads in the industry. You think the average person would have even been given the option of holding it until they came back from their trip? They'd have told the average person to hand it over and move on by without a peep or they'd be accused of assaulting an officer. I had a friend who worked customs in Montreal and he would never pay for bottles simply because of all the kids coming back from Cuba with too much booze. The politician was certainly dumb to not realize you can't bring alcohol on board, but his demand was totally reasonable. Who wants some goof taking your alcohol?

When I got caught with my liquor, they gave me a choice. I could either give it to someone on the side before security, I could check it into my luggage, or I could leave it at security. At that point, I counted it as a "stupid tax" and decided to abandon it. I told the guy at security he could have it and he actually got really offended and said that it is against the rules.

Really, at that point though, what does it matter? You can't take it through, so if you're going to abandon it, what difference does it make who gets it? It's not like they are singling him out.

hockeycop · 03-19-2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleury

I absolutely hate politicians, so I really have no vested interest in defending the guy, but how the heck are so many of you defending the customs officers? They're the biggest meatheads in the industry. You think the average person would have even been given the option of holding it until they came back from their trip? They'd have told the average person to hand it over and move on by without a peep or they'd be accused of assaulting an officer. I had a friend who worked customs in Montreal and he would never pay for bottles simply because of all the kids coming back from Cuba with too much booze. The politician was certainly dumb to not realize you can't bring alcohol on board, but his demand was totally reasonable. Who wants some goof taking your alcohol?

Airport security guards have no affiliation with Customs at all. The only thing remotely similar is that Customs Officers are also posted in Airports.

CATSA - Canadian Air Transport Security Agency (The security guards with the metal detector wands)

CBSA - Canada Border Services Agency (Customs/Immigration - Federal Peace Officers with the guns and sticks)