P.E.I. can’t fall asleep on security issue

Editorial from The Guardian

There was a time on Prince Edward Island when the premier of the day would curl up on a comfortable couch in Province House and take a nap. It’s unlikely Premier Robert Ghiz is sneaking in any catnaps these days, given the brickbats and such coming his way, but that’s another story. But the fact that some premiers of yesteryears felt comfortable enough to log some pillow time was reflective of the peace and security they felt at the workplace.

Sadly those times have disappeared and incidents of workplace violence and security issues have become common across the country. There can be many flashpoints. Disgruntled taxpayers, spouses upset with child custody arrangements, landowners angry over new government red tape, just to name a few.

The simple undisputable fact is that security can no longer be taken for granted. With that in mind a retired police officer has been hired to review security at the provincial government buildings in Charlottetown, as well as at historic Province House.

The balancing act the review must aim for is keeping the buildings open and welcoming to the public, but at the same time making sure the people who work inside them are, and feel, safe.

Foster Millar of the Department of Transportation says government staffers have expressed some anxiety about how easy it is to access government offices, particularly at the provincial government complex in the capital. He said those buildings were constructed in an age when security concerns were much lower than they are today.

Millar isn’t pushing any alarm buttons; he stresses there isn’t any crisis situation at the moment. Rather, he said it’s a case of a continued recognition that other levels of government, including the federal government, have taken a much stronger approach to security and therefore it’s something Prince Edward Island should consider as well.

While we live in a very tranquil and peaceful corner of the world, bad things can and do happen from time to time. Fifteen years ago, for example, a man set off a pipe bomb at Province House and the blast shattered 10 windows. A bystander outside the legislature was injured but it was extremely fortunate no one inside Province House was since it was full of people at the time.

After that unusual incident security measures were greatly increased at Province House, in fact the measures put Prince Edward Island on the leading edge of such security. But from leading the country in taking such action back then, Prince Edward Island has now fallen behind other provinces in the year 2010.

The need to tighten security at government buildings may seem like overkill to some. Let’s face it; it can be frustrating enough dealing with government and its entanglements in our daily lives. Making it harder to reach government workers could complicate things that much more. Which, ironically, could lead to more stressful incidents between the public and the workers who serve the public. Lets hope that doesn’t become the case.

It comes back to finding the right balance. The balance between government offices that are open and obliging to members of the public, while also protecting the workers. And now, when things aren’t that stressful, is the proper time to find that balance.