News Release

National 2007

Minister Day attends graduation of Canada’s first armed border services officers

Chilliwack, British Columbia, July 27, 2007 -- The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today congratulated the first 39 Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers in Canada to graduate from the CBSA’s firearms training program. The graduates, who attended training in both Ottawa and Chilliwack, will be deployed to ports of entry throughout the country.

As part of a plan to enhance safety and strengthen security at Canada’s border, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced funding in August 2006 for firearms training for CBSA officers at land and marine ports of entry, as well as for officers who perform enforcement functions within Canada. This includes the 400 new permanent CBSA officers who will be hired, trained and equipped in order to eliminate work-alone situations.

“Canada’s New Government is taking action to strengthen our border security, and that starts with giving our CBSA officers the tools and resources they need to protect our border and keep our communities safe,” said Minister Day. “Now that the firearms training program is underway, we expect to have more than 100 officers deployed throughout the country by the end of August.”

"This is a long awaited day. Through its arming and doubling-up of single-person shift initiatives, this government has done more to enhance officer and public safety than many previous governments combined, and for this we applaud it," said Ron Moran, President of Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise (CEUDA).

The firearms training program provides training to CBSA officers on determining various levels of threats and risks, and responding to situations through simulation exercises. The next classes are scheduled to begin on August 13, 2007, at RCMP facilities in Ottawa and Chilliwack.

Canada’s New Government is committed to ensuring that the border is protected from those who threaten the security of Canada, while ensuring that legitimate commerce or travel is not delayed.

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For media information:

Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863

Fact Sheet:
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 border services officers with firearms. Approximately 4,800 CBSA officers at land and marine ports of entry as well as inland enforcement officers will be trained and equipped with firearms. Fully trained and armed officers will begin to be deployed at the end of July 2007. By March 31, 2008, between 250 and 300 armed officers will have been deployed. Full implementation of this initiative is expected to take place over a period of 10 years.

Why is the Government arming CBSA officers?

To ensure Canada’s borders are secure, the Government must ensure that those who guard our borders are themselves secure. Providing CBSA officers with firearms and training, and ensuring that work-alone situations are eliminated, will help achieve this goal. Arming CBSA officers will improve their effectiveness at the border by enabling them to pursue enforcement activities to a greater extent before involving police agencies.

Training

CBSA officers who will be armed need to have successfully completed the three-week training program that reflects the CBSA’s specific working conditions. Firearms training is more than learning how to shoot — it involves incorporating firearms into the use of force decision-making and simulation exercises in practical CBSA situations. Training is taking place at RCMP facilities in Ottawa and Chilliwack. The next classes are scheduled to begin on August 13. By the end of August, more than 100 officers will have been deployed throughout the country. In addition to the current and potential additional capacity at the RCMP Ottawa and Chilliwack facilities, the CBSA is looking for additional government or private sector facilities that could be used until construction is completed at the CBSA Learning Centre in Rigaud, Québec.

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 comprehensive arming training program, a rigorous screening process, and detailed policies and procedures to guide and support border services officers. This initiative is being implemented safely, professionally and without undue delay.