Canada-U.S. pact allows cross-border military activity

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Canada - U.S. Military Pact certainly has ruffled the Feathers of Canada's Left Wing,  and the U.S. Right Wing, with both parties trading barbs  over soveriegnty  in each others country.  The Military Pact, designed to allow Military units to be deployed into each others country is designed as a rapid response force to be used by both countries in the event of  a Civil emergency.  

Believe it or not, this has been going on for decades without a written pact,  with the U.S. taking full advantage of requesting Canadian Troops sans Weapons to enter the  U.S  to assist in Civil Emergencies.  Though a request is rarely used, Canadian Forces were deployed at the U.S. governments request to assist New York state (in the late 1990's) during the 2 month Canada-US winter Ice Storm which saw both countries Eastern Regions thrown into Chaos.   This Ice Storm lasted a couple of months which resulted in  a near 90% total electrical blackout for both New York State and Ontario and Quebec, with outlying regions affected in the Maritimes.  Our role; everything from delivering firewood to transport duties, including water and firewood to homes which had wood burning appliances, Hospitals, Seniors homes, other critical care areas needed regular fuel deliveries and emergency generators supplied to keep the Health care system up and running.   Both Canada-U.S. Eastern regions locked into what resembled a frozen tundra, with driving snow and freezing rains knocked out electricity throughout a major part of the eastern region, thus without electricity, virtually every  store, gas station, and business shut down, roads were impassable, hence gas was not commercially available for Police, Ambulances or Snow removal trucks to clear roads, let alone fuel deliveries to heat millions of homes.  There were local businesses and people who took full advantage of the situation, resulting in minor Civil strife, Farmers stood guard rifle in hand as a rash of thefts in rural areas was common, the prize, "Portable Gas Generators" farmers used to heat the barns for their livestock, keep livestiock drinking water from freezing and milk ing machines for the cows.  The massive theft of gas generators resulting in many Livestock dying from exposure by opportunists who would steal from farmers and businesses, only to sell their ill gotten goods at a 1000% percent over retail price to a desperate public.
Theft in another form reared it's ugly head  among retailers was price gouging and  individuals alike selling $500.00 gas generators (even used ones ) all of a sudden selling for thousands of dollars on the open market, with gas generator manufacturers not being able to keep up with demand, even if they could, there was no transportation to bring gas generators to market.

 Being a Lone driver touring  various towns and cities made one  think this is what a Nuclear winter would look like, an eerie experience driving snowbound highways and cities and not seeing another human or animal or even passing another vehicle for miles .
 
Quebec, at one time in 1970 during the FLQ terrorist crisis was put under martial law briefly, and now was a victim of the 1997-1998 Ice Storm (and a previous Snow storm in 1971) was never particularly fond of seeing a military packet of vehicles on it's roads, towns and cities were certainly receptive to the Canadian Military coming to it's aid.

Citizen Paranoia abounds:
In the late 1980s during the Quebec Soveriegnty debate our Military  unit were spotted by Quebec citizens (who watched us from across a river dividing Ontario and Quebec) driving in a military packet formation along a highway on Ontario side resulted in calls to government from worried Quebec citizens wondering what we were up to?  We were just coming back from summer military exercises, needless to say word came down from the powers to be to take a different route next time and to be sight unseen by Quebecers.

Flashback to 2007, the New West Regiment in which my son is a member, were marching late at night in formation along  a street outside their Armoury, dressed in Combat uniforms (No weapons) and full gear in preparation for Operation Salvo.
A concerned New Westminster citizen, obviously with nothing better to do, placed a 911 call to police frantically shouting terrorists in camoflague with BIG GUNS were shooting each other on the streets of New Westminster.   Needless to say  Police tactical were dispatched immediately,  sirens a blaring,  embarrassing (Police) situation resolved, resulting in New West Regiment not being allowed outside in military formation.  Of course unless a parade or on Remembrance Day.

Funny how the Military in both countries is looked down upon by those in "Good Times", yet is revered with Flag Waving during a crisis in "Bad Times".  Especially by the self serving Bleeding Heart Lefties when their own Personal situation is at stake.  Quite a hypocritical quandary if you ask me.

We have a Motto in the Military " If you are not behind us, you are most certainly welcome to stand in front of us".

No Truer words ever spoken.