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Fact Sheet
March 2009
Arming of CBSA Officers
Background
The 2006 federal budget provided the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) with $101 million over two years to begin the process of providing CBSA officers with firearms and hiring 400 new officers to eliminate “work alone” situations. Approximately 4,800 officers at land and marine ports of entry, as well as officers who perform enforcement, investigative and intelligence work inland, will be trained and equipped with duty firearms once the Arming Initiative is fully implemented. As of February 2009, a total of 776 armed officers have been deployed throughout the country. In all regions across Canada, armed CBSA officers are being deployed based on the port of entry volume of travellers and on the level of risk.
Why is the Government of Canada arming CBSA officers?
The Government is arming CBSA officers to enhance border security and officer safety. Providing officers with duty firearms and training will improve their effectiveness at the border by enabling them to pursue enforcement activities to a greater extent before involving police agencies. The CBSA is providing its officers with the tools and resources that they need to protect Canada's border and keep communities safe.
Training
CBSA officers who will be armed must successfully complete the three-week CBSA Duty Firearm Course. This course reflects the CBSA's specific working conditions. Firearms training is about more than learning how to safely handle a firearm -- it involves incorporating firearms into use-of-force decision making and simulation exercises based on real-life CBSA situations. Training is taking place at facilities in Ottawa, Ontario, and Chilliwack, British Columbia. In addition to the current and potential additional capacity at these facilities, the CBSA is looking for other government or private sector facilities that could be used.
Safety at the border
The introduction of firearms is a serious and complex undertaking. The CBSA has put in place a number of measures to ensure the safety of its officers, the travelling public and border communities. These include a rigorous screening process, a comprehensive firearms training program and detailed policies and procedures to guide and support its officers. This initiative is being implemented safely, professionally and without undue delay.
