`Out of Canada, you have no help'

[ConcernedCanuk]

.
.
.

`Out of Canada, you have no help'

U.S. rushes to aid of citizens abroad
Our rules weaker, as Ianieros found
Mar. 11, 2006. 02:06 PM
LINDA DIEBEL
STAFF REPORTER

You're heading to warmer climes for Spring Break and you've got your trusty Canadian passport. You know that safety is always an issue; you may even be aware of the recent murder of a Canadian couple in Mexico. Still, deep in your heart, don't you really believe your government will be there for you in a crisis?

Think again. The Canadian government's response to its citizens in crisis abroad appears informal at best and deficient at worst — at least compared to the U.S., a country that moves heaven and earth to help distressed Americans. The U.S. has a special Washington-based agency within the State Department, named the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management and devoted to serving out-of-country Americans. There is a strict diplomatic protocol in which officials must be on site within 24 hours, and ready to report to Congress within 72 hours, of any crisis involving an American.

Canada has no such protocol and the Conservative government last month abolished the cabinet-level post of parliamentary secretary with special responsibility for Canadians abroad.




________________________________________________________________________

the Conservative government last month abolished the cabinet-level post of parliamentary secretary with special responsibility for Canadians abroad.
________________________________________________________________________

How is it that this doesn't surprise me . . .




AH -

that's why

[CHIMO]

1. Link

`Out of Canada, you have no help'
U.S. rushes to aid of citizens abroad
Our rules weaker, as Ianieros found

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1142031016757&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. the link is the Toronto Star image in my original post

.
.
.

Just clik on it . .

[CHIMO]

4. OK

Doesn't work for me but it may be my security software.

[Ben Ceremos]

11. Would not the glory of America

be better expressed by her coming to the aid of those in distress domestically? With nearly 750,000 homeless and the number without benefits or regualr income, I'd still rather be a Canadian...but I already have a government that will help me out of a jam. :)

[depakid]

3. The comparison is more a little exaggerated

The US doesn't exactly rush to help citizens in crisis....

Still, sounds like you Canucks might do a better job. I'd like to think so, at least, since I have a red maple leak sown to the day pack I carry when I'm abroad....;-)

[HuffleClaw]

5. unless they are BLONDE !

but seriously, this move by the 'new' conservative government is just what to expect from harper and his neocon pals.

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. "a red maple leak" ?? I figure you meant "leaf", right?

.
.
.

the "k" is far enuf away on MY keyboard from the "f"

so I'm wunderin . . :silly:

[depakid]

14. typos- lol

No leaks- that would be Wales, LOL. I do have the "leaf" on one of my packs! and I'll probably put stickers on luggage next trip, depending where I go (thinking Thailand).

[SoCalDem]

6. I first left the US at 18 months of age, spent most of my childhood

OUTSIDE the contintntal 48..and was told from EARLY on, that when outside the US, "you are ON YOUR OWN", so don't go breaking any local laws, because Uncle Sam won;t necessarily be there to help you out..

The MOVIES created the myth of the eager ambassador/ambassadonr's wife/undercover CIA agents/whomever ,, who is always sitting by the phone, waiting to help out some endangered American Tourist..

In reality, that never happens.. If you get into trouble abroad, you better speak the language and have LOTS of money :(

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. If you get into trouble abroad, you better speak the language and have LOT

.
.
.

"If you get into trouble abroad, you better speak the language and have LOTS of money"

I agree - I don't really believe what the article says about the USA,

"a country that moves heaven and earth to help distressed Americans"

44 million without health coverage sorta gave me a hint . . .

[burrowowl]

8. You are right ON!

Embassy etc. of no help at all.
Unless an election or good will can be won re RayGun and hostage release.

[rooboy]

9. Same story in Australia...

our national passports are becoming worthless.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. I recall reading an article about some Americans who were arrested for

possession of marijuana in some Third World country and eventually convicted and sent to prison.

They said that the British embassy, which sent people to see Brits who were locked up in that same prison, actually did more for them than anyone from the U.S. embassy.

When preparing students for study in Japan, I warned them about the strict drug laws there. They tended to look blasé about the whole matter (you can be held without charges for three weeks, the maximum sentence for possession of marijuana is five years, etc.) until I told them that the U.S. embassy wouldn't do squat for them. That got their attention.

[OneBlueSky]

12. "a country that moves heaven and earth to help . . .

distressed Americans" . . .

apparently this reporter never heard of Katrina . . .

[daleo]

15. Distressed rich Americans, perhaps. n/t

[Spinoza]

16. At least once the U.S. sure helped an American

abroad (me). I am an AK amputee and get around with a prostetic leg. I was in London on business in 1994 and the hydraulic on the prosthesis suddenly conked out making it very difficult to walk (stiff 'peg leg' only). I didn't know what to do so I called the American Embassy and explained my situation. I got thru right away and was told they would call me back in 15 minutes. 10 minutes later I got a call back and was told they had already made an appointment for me the next day (at the British national health service who were wonderful). They asked if I could take a taxi and said if I had a problem they would send a car for me. The next evening, after my appointment (and a totally fixed prosthesis) they called me at my hotel to make sure everything went ok.

I don't know about Canada but I sure had no complaints about the outstanding helpfulness of the U.S. embassy.

[Texacrat]

17. Why can't the G7 (notice how I'm excluding Russia) pool their resources

And represent all the people of these countries with increased vigor.