Flying the friendly skies with Big Brother. (Guest Column).

0 Comments | Alberta Report, November, 2001 | by Morrison, Lee

On October 1, Elmer Blanchard, an 81-year-old war veteran, was passing, with his wife, through airport security to board an Air Canada plane in Charlottetown. While the agent was rummaging through his wife's small purse, Mr. Blanchard allegedly grumbled, "Are you looking for a bomb?" and the roof fell in. Within moments he was arrested by Charlottetown city police, charged with uttering "bomb threats" and hauled off to the police station to be photographed and fingerprinted.

Mrs. Blanchard was questioned separately and informed that her husband was being charged with a criminal offence and that neither of them would be allowed to fly Air Canada again. The airline later backtracked on the ban. After all, when you're going broke, every real live passenger is...