Peter Van Loan has never had a firsthand, up-close and personal look at the busiest smuggling artery along the U. S.- Canada border.
Nor has he shown any (make that no) interest in a bird's-eye snapshot.
Back in June, when the stand-off between the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) and Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) led to the closing down of the Seaway International Bridge, Van Loan told this newspaper that he had been to Cornwall on a couple of occasions but admitted he has never had a first-hand look at Akwesasne and the border that weaves its way through the territory.
He prefers to rely on briefings supplied by the CBSA and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Strange approach for a man who is in charge of keeping our border with the U. S. secure and works out of an office an hour's drive away.
Others have shown more interest. Shortly after he became commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, Julian Fantino arranged to be taken on a tour of Akwesasne.
MCA officials who escorted the province's top cop say he was amazed at the jurisdictional nightmare law enforcement faced in its battle against smuggling.
He went back to Orillia (OPP headquarters) with a new understanding of the border dilemma.
Several members of the opposition, including Bob Rae, have come to Cornwall since June 1 for a first-hand look.
Now we have the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce begging, once again, Van Loan to visit Cornwall for a first-hand look at the bridge issue that is affecting commerce on both sides of the border.
Caught in the middle of the bridge muddle is MP Guy Lauzon who is gun-shy about rattling the public safety minister's cage.
"I'm just the messenger," protests Super Guy between funding announcements.
Super would pay dearly (possibly losing his coveted caucus chair post) if he decided to ruffle Van Loan's feathers.
Thus, the job of jerking on Van Loan's chain has fallen to the local Chamber of Commerce.
Seems democracy is blooming everywhere but in the Conservative caucus.