The Canadian Parliament tackled the critical issue of an impending zombie invasion from America a day after a hoaxer hacked into a Montana television broadcast to warn that the dead were rising from their graves.
In a speech that had his fellow members of Parliament laughing in the aisles, Winnipeg MP Pat Martin warned that, if zombies were popping up in America, Canadians needed to take proper measures to prepare.
"I rise today to salute the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta and the province of Quebec for putting in emergency measures to deal with the possibility of an invasion of zombies," Martin said on the Parliament floor. "I don’t need to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that zombies don’t don’t recognize borders and that a zombie invasion in the United States can easily turn into a continent-wide pandemic if it’s not contained.
"So on behalf of concerned Canadians everywhere, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Is he working with his American counterparts to develop an international zombie strategy so that a zombie invasion does not turn into a zombie apocalypse?”
Martin was referring to plans for a zombie-themed emergency training exercise canceled by the Quebec provincial government.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird rose to the occasion.
"Mr. Speaker, I want to assure this member and all Canadians that I am dead-i-cated to ensuring that this never happens," Baird said, clearly enjoying himself.
"I want to say categorically to this member and through him to all Canadians that under the leadership of this prime minister, Canada will never become a safe haven for zombies. Ever!"
Read more: http://www.upi.com/blog/2013/02/14/Zombie-apocalypse-takes-center-stage-in-Canadian-Parliament-VIDEO/5791360876186/#ixzz2KzUqBa4v
Zombies pose not only a physical threat, but also a fiscal one. The government will need to raise signficant funds to protect the living, while much of the taxpaying public will be dead or undead. It is of critical importance that the government consider whether those who have become zombies should be considered dead for estate tax purposes and how the income tax might apply to zombies. To that end, I offer up Death and Taxes and Zombies, available at http://ssrn.com/abstact=2045255.
Posted by: Adam Chodorow | February 20, 2013 at 11:46 AM
Thank you Adam! I agree that you raise a vexing issue---how do we count them for tax and other purposes, such as the census? I worry they will be used as another basis to curb immigration reform efforts. While they may have been among us, as arguably new beings, they may now be considered unwanted new residents amongst us?
For whatever, its worth, my wife is convinced my next book will draw parallels between the Zombie fad and immigration reform. I think she is on to something. Any and all suggested titles are more than welcome.
Peace (or shall I say: Rest in Peace?).
ER
Posted by: Ediberto Roman | February 23, 2013 at 05:58 PM