Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks gave Official Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair a piece of his mind June 13 for trying to abuse his status that morning when stopped by Ottawa RCMP officers for rolling through stop signs.

CTV News reported last Thursday that Mulcair had blown through a couple of stop signs, with a RCMP cruiser following with its lights flashing, as he headed to work. After being stopped, he is alleged to have demanded of the officer who stopped him: “Don’t you know who I am?”

Sparwood resident Wilks, a retired RCMP officer, stated, “Mr. Speaker, on May 23, 1873, in this place, an act establishing what would be referred to as the North-West Mounted Police Act was passed.  Sir John A. Macdonald had a vision that a national police force would be used to calm tensions in the west.  Today, the RCMP was called on to calm tensions in the east. Safety on Parliament Hill is paramount. The Leader of the Opposition apparently does not think so. When a police officer turns on their emergency lights, it means stop, not go through stop signs. Police officers are asked to do many things. One of the things they are not asked to be is mind-readers.”

“If I was still a police officer and the Leader of the Opposition said, “Do you know who I am?”

My reply back to him would be “As soon as you give your driver’s licence I will,” he said, adding, “Don’t you know who I am? That was the shocking outburst from the Leader of the Opposition when he finally pulled over for the RCMP after going through several stop signs and, worse, failing to stop for a police officer. Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety tell the House about the importance of obeying the laws of Canada?”

Candice Bergen (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, CPC) replied, “I do want to thank that member for his service to our country as a member of the RCMP. The Leader of the Opposition’s actions today show a complete lack of judgment, and they show a complete lack of respect for law enforcement. It is no surprise that that leader and his party vote against every piece of legislation we have to get tough on criminals. Today, while we stand proudly as our Prime Minister, our leader is abroad making Canadians proud, the NDP know that their leader is running through stop signs and displaying disrespect for the RCMP who serve us on the Hill.”

Mulcair’s office issued a statement on the incident, alleged by CTV News June 13: “Mr. Mulcair went through the gate as usual this morning. He waved at the officer on duty as he always does, and proceeded through the open gate. The officer didn’t recognize him, leading to a misunderstanding. Once notified of the misunderstanding, he had a very respectful discussion with an officer. He then immediately went down to clear up the misunderstanding with the commanding officer. Mr. Mulcair apologized for the misunderstanding. No warnings or citations of any kind were issued to Mr. Mulcair. The matter was settled immediately and cordially.”

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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