Robert Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant to Canada, died in Vancouver after being "tasered" by the RCMP at the airport. There is a lesson to be learned here and I am not talking about the use of tasers.
Dziekanski was an unemployed coal miner (some reports say he was an unemployed construction worker) from Poland who spoke neither English or French. He had no job prospects and was coming to join his mother who was already in Vancouver. He had never flown before in his life and had never even been out of Poland.
This incident brings into question our immigration procedures as much as police procedures.
For instance, why was Dziekanski being allowed to immigrate to Canada when he had no employment agreements? After arriving he could have been a quick candidate for welfare.
Secondly, why was he not required to learn one of Canada's official languages before he came. Surely he had the time.
Third, if we knew he was coming, why was he delayed for 10 hours at the airport while immigration folks processed him? He must of had papers.
Fourth, in all of Vancouver there is no one who speaks Polish who could have helped out? Why was his mother, who I assume spoke Polish, told that Dziekanski was not in immigration?
By all means let us investigate the RCMP use of taser on this man but they are not the only questions to be asked. Immigration Canada and airport officials have some explaining to do also.
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