Has your MP taken action yet?

Has your MP responded to your mail yet? Please send a reminder if she has not. Your voice matters.

The response from Peggy Nash, MP Parkdale-High Park, forwarded by a reader, is copied below [ed: Key sentences have been highlighted for emphasis].

Dear ____
Thank you for your letter regarding the death of Mr. Robert Dziekanski. I was equally disturbed and frustrated by this incident.

I have taken action on this issue. Please see my letter to the Prime Minister below calling for a public inquiry, an official apology., and an immediate review of taser use in Canada.

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

I am certain that you are aware of the recent tragic situation regarding Polish national Robert Dziekanski. On the morning of Oct. 14th at the international arrivals terminal of Vancouver International Airport, Mr. Dziekanski died after being struck with a taser by several RCMP officers.

I was shocked and saddened by the series of events that led to Mr. Dziekanski death. Many of my constituents have been equally alarmed and have shared their frustration through letters and phone calls.

I would urge the Government to launch a public inquiry into this matter and issue an apology to Mr. Dziekansk’s mother who has suffered a great loss.

Additionally, I believe the Government must take urgent action on the matter of tasers. There are currently no clear national standards for the use of tasers and little understanding of their impact. Until strict standards are in place and until we can know that tasers are safe, I would advocate for their use to be significantly restricted and for an immediate and thorough review of their use.

Lastly, one of the most disturbing elements of this tragic situation is the 10 hours that it took for Mr. Dziekanski to clear customs. A review of customs procedures is needed to identify how a person could have been delayed for such a long period of time and not received any assistance in the interim.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter.

Peggy Nash, MP
Parkdale-High Park

While I generally agree with MP Nash, it must be pointed out that Robert Dziekanski was not only a Polish national, he was also a Canadian.

In case you have not yet reached out, here is the list of the 304 members of the parliament. We have to keep reminding the MPs that this is important to Canada and Canadians.