Calgary Spotters Selling Out To Big Brother?

[Matt Molnar]

Stumbled across this during a rare visit to the a.net forums...

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/ge ... n/2728956/

Fallingeese From Canada, joined Apr 2001, 2059 posts, RR: 15
Posted Thu Apr 20 2006 04:13:36 UTC+2 and read 67 times:

I know that a lot of people read these forums and don't participate so I am hoping to catch their eyes and direct them to the web site. Similarly, any of the Calgary area spotters who I am unaware of may not have received the initial email campaign.

We are in the process of starting a Calgary Airport Watch program in participation with the RCMP and the Calgary Airport Authority. We have the full backing and support of both organizations.

I urge all Calgary spotters to contact me with their interest as we try to organize this program. This is a great opportunity for spotters in the Calgary area.

In our initial membership drive we have collected 23 names that will be passed on to the RCMP. The background check forms will be mailed out very soon. As usual the updates will be posted on http://www.contrailsphotography.com in the Airport Watch section when time permits.

For those of you haven't passed your information onto me, or have any questions it isn't too late. This is a continuous process.

The details are not real clear in this post and there's nothing about it on his website, but to me it sure sounds like they're voluntarily allowing the Candian federales to do background checks of them so the RCMP will allow them to continue their legal activity of photographing planes. Sorry, there's no way I'm letting the government background check me unless I'm getting a government job, even if they promised access to restricted areas. Either the general sense of freedom in Canada is a lot different from here, or these guys are real tools.

If anyone with an a.net account would like to get more details from this dude, please do. I cancelled mine long ago.

[Ari707]

Calgary...the hot bed of terror.......

[markg]

[quote="GothamSpotter"]
Either the general sense of freedom in Canada is a lot different from here, or these guys are real tools.

[quote]

There's probably a lot more sense of freedom in Canada, given their prime minister doesn't have a tendency to invade foreign countries.

I don't have a problem with getting a background check done, if it means I can enjoy my hobby without hassle.