FEBRUARY 18, 2009

       It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a giant bird-plane spy.

       “Hello, border dwellers. I see you. I’m hovering overhead to watch you and to send images of you back to my homeland. Forget that privacy you once had while in the backyard raking your leaves or playing with the kids. I see it all. And the worst part is you and your country can do nothing about it.”

       I hope you read that overhearing a sinister voice speaking it. Of course, I’m referring to this drone thing that is set to take to the skies.

       It won’t quite be overhead because this unmanned flying unit isn’t technically allowed into Canada, but its “eyes” can see into the country and that has many people worried. It brings up the question about privacy but also the need to spend US$10.5 million on the device.

       Not to say Emerson and surrounding area is a hotbed for criminal activity (although I have been to many socials in the region, so I’m not commenting further!) but to spend that amount of money, considering the country’s economic crisis, this might not be the most cost-effective priority.

       Then again, I don’t live in the United States and the crime there doesn’t overly concern me. So if there’s reason to specifically single out the Manitoba border – which, from all reports I’ve seen, it just seems to be because we share a border and not for any other specific reason – I guess the preventative action is necessary for that country.

       There is a long stretch from the Manitoba border into American towns, so I’m not sure why the “eye in the sky” needs to be focused into our country. Again, officials are saying they are not spying on Canadians, it’s merely for security, but don’t they need to have that security on their own turf and not “look” into our country.

       Do we honestly think the U.S. government would be gung-ho about us setting up shop with high-powered binoculars and watching its land? Probably not.