When the Harper government sneaked in last month's big omnibus law, there was hidden deep inside a clause that goes much further than anyone could have imagined.
It gives the CIA, the FBI and American police forces the same powers of arrest in Canada as the RCMP.
Hard to believe that Stephen Harper would allow American law enforcement into Canada to do whatever they want without so much as a by-your-leave.
It's called the Integrated Border Operations Law Enforcement Act, and there it is, right in Harper's omnibus law.
Now it will be possible for American "law and order" officers to zip across the border whenever they want to chase down suspects,
No more need to stop at the border and ask the Mounties to take over the chase for them, or to ask RCMP permission to cross the border.
The new law clearly states the American law enforcement people will have "the same power to enforce an Act of Parliament as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "
Knowing the great care and delicacy that U.S. law enforcement brings to his work, perhaps we do not have that much to celebrate.
The American cops are thrilled. For many years American fugitives escaped by crossing the border with Canada, either by car, boat or aircraft and evaded arrest.
But the Americans will continue to guard jealously their own police jurisdiction. The RCMP will still not have the power to cross the border to chase after crooks.
