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U.S. Politicians
Visit
Canadian
Counterparts
By:
Dave Kewley
The
Hamilton Spectator
Niagara-On-The-Lake
Agatha
Christie had nothing on the shroud of mystery and intrigue that socked
in Niagara District Airport yesterday afternoon.
It
was thicker and darker than the drizzle and fog that grounded several
local flights.
The
obvious objects of attention were two United States Air Force DC 9
passenger jets sitting in plain view of the tarmac in front of the
modest airport passenger terminal.
“Is that Air Force One?” blurted a curious traveler, who noticed the
USAF insignia on the jets as he stood waiting for a character flight to
Sudbury.
It
seemed that if US and Canadian security personnel could have had their
way, they would have thrown two big black security blankets over two
medium-size carriers to hide them.
The
trouble was that even though questions were flying like gnats over a
sweaty bull, nobody was talking.
“I
can’t and I won’t tell you a blamed thing” grumbled usually
affable airport manager Conrad Hatcher when approached by The Hamilton
Spectator.
About
20 geography students from Laura Secondary School in St Catherine’s,
who were there for aerial reconnaissance flights, had been grounded.
Some went out to talk with the pilot and take a closer look.
As
they returned to the terminal, a reporter approached the pilot and
identified himself in order to ask a question.
The
pilot looked shocked and cried out” Oh no, I can’t tell you
anything. Air Force personnel are never allowed to speak to the press.
“If
I say one thing I’ll be right out of the Air Force”.
And
the eyes of one of the students opened up like saucers when asked by a
photographer for his name.
Shaking
his head warily, he hustled away saying” I can’t tell you.
”What
the heck is going on here?
Did
a flying saucer crash nearby?
The
mystery deepened when two well-dressed men with very short haircuts
approached the members of the press and asked to see their credentials.
“These
people are here for a non published event…It’s not a public
event,” said RCMP Constable
Terry Russel sternly and that was that.
By
Now, the five W's of journalism had been brought to a robust boil.
“A
group of U.S. senators and members of the House of Representatives
arrived on these two jets.
“One
landed about 7pm Thursday and the other landed early this morning.She
added they were attending some kind of Canada-Us. Conference and
speculated they probably took separate flights because they don’t get
along well together.
Finally
some clues, a trail to follow. A few hours later, the mystery was no
more.
At
the luxurious Queen’s Landing Hotel on the Niagara River, Ron Lemieux,
secretary for the Canadian-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, was
giving the lowdown on the 44th annual meeting to a reporter.
Lemieux
said there were 24 delegates from each country, seven U.S. senators and
17 Congressmen and six members of the Canadian Senate and 18 MPs.
They
made up three committees that were discussing trade and economics,
international issues and Trans-border issues.
“These
are private meetings at which each side can openly and informally
exchange views on any topic they wish,” he said.
Hot
issues up for discussion at this meeting, which wraps up tomorrow
evening, include Canadian drug policies, such as the legalization of
marijuana, border security, Iraq and war on terrorism and World Trade
Organization issue’s.
Dkewley@thespec.com
or the Stoney Creek bureau or 905-662-3811.
Sheprott
K-9 Security Officers keep a watchful eye on U.S. Planes
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