CEUDA Pleased the Government is Honouring its
Promise to Arm and Double-up Border

AUG 31 ... Today’s announcement by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper that the New Government remains committed to arming Officers at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and to doubling-up one-person shifts comes as welcome news to the Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise (CEUDA), which represents 9,000 members working in CBSA.  

CEUDA and its members have waited with anticipation for the emergence of definitive steps toward their arming and doubling-up since the May 2006 federal budget promised $101M over the next 2 years to launch these measures.  Though CEUDA continues to work with the Government for a shorter implementation period, the Prime Minister’s announcement, made close to where a high-speed U.S. police chase ended in a dramatic shootout at the Peace Arch on January 24 earlier this year and which forced the closure of the busy border crossing south of Vancouver, couldn’t come too soon.

Ron Moran, CEUDA National President, says: “On behalf of the thousands of men and women who work in CBSA, whom we represent, and who risk their lives every shift of every day to protect Canadians, CEUDA thanks the Prime Minister and this New Government for honouring their commitment and moving forward in real ways that Canadians can count on and benefit from.  Border security is not something to be toyed with and this New Government acts on that in concrete and measured ways.”

Moran adds, “And while we are elated with this news and commend the Government for listening to our representations, we continue to call on the Government to also arm the Officers who work at International Airports.  While CBSA currently has no expressed intention of arming these Officers, the Government remains open to discussing the issue with us as implementation progresses.” 

Arming the border will put an end to dangerous and unsafe working conditions for many CEUDA members, and will ensure greater safety in our communities. Among other things, it will establish an effective law enforcement mandate within the CBSA that is sure to lead to safer Canadian streets with fewer guns, drugs, and people who shouldn’t be there. 

Moran closes, “CBSA has 138 work sites where our members have been working alone, many of these on the border with the United States and in isolated locations far removed from urban centres and hours away from any form of a police presence. We continue to push for, and look forward to tangible measures that will honour the Government’s promise to end work alone shifts in Customs and see an end to single-person ports as quickly as possible.”

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