"This is welcomed news for Customs Officers," says Serge Charette, National President of CEUDA, "we have been asking for our members to be equipped with weapons on a voluntary basis for many years and, though this falls short of our goal, we see it as a step in the right direction. Now that designated Canadian Customs Officers have been given the power to detain and arrest Criminal Code offenders the issue of proper enforcement tools is more pressing than ever."

On July 25, 2000, the Minister of National Revenue, the Honourable Martin Cauchon, officially initiated a process that will see Customs Officers across Canada enforcing portions of the Criminal Code of Canada - this is a result of the enactment of Bill C-18 on May 14, 1998. Customs Officers are now expected to detain and at times arrest Criminal Code offenders some of whom are known to be dangerous and trying to enter Canada to flee the American justice system.

Charette adds, "Canadian Customs Officers are now expected to arrest criminals wanted for such crimes as murder, robbery, car theft or child abduction. This makes it more likely then ever that some of them will be armed and dangerous. Plus they will be expected to detain and arrest people who drive into Canada drunk or high on drugs." It is estimated that in the past 6 years 447 child abductors, 16,036 drunk drivers, 4,200 persons with warrants issued for their arrest, and 1,014 persons driving stolen vehicles crossed the border into Canada, and Customs Officers were powerless to apprehend them.

Charette states that "other law enforcement officers on both sides of the Canada / U.S. border who deal with the same type of criminals are equipped with a firearm to help them carry out their duties effectively and safely." On the U.S. side, for example, Customs Officers working at the checkpoints and Border Patrol Officers working between them, are equipped with firearms. On the Canadian side, RCMP Officers working between Customs checkpoints are also equipped with firearms. Canadian Customs Officers, however, working at Customs checkpoints and who will now arrest dangerous Criminal Code offenders at the border, are not equipped with firearms.

"We strongly applaud the CCRA for its decision to study this important question," concludes Charette, "doing so has rarely been more appropriate." For its part, CEUDA is planning to survey its membership on this issue, and has extended an invitation to Customs’ management to work with the union on the survey.

- 30 -