Tag Archives: sécurité frontalière

Expanding the role of border officers: Letter of support from NDP MPs Brian Masse and Alistair MacGregor

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Following CIU’s letter to Dominic LeBlanc regarding the need for the government to expand the role of border officers between ports of entry, New Democratic Party MPs Brian Masse (NDP Canada-US Border Critic) and Alistair MacGregor (NDP Public Safety Critic) expressed support for the idea and for the Customs and Immigration Union and its members, in a letter to CIU National President Mark Weber. In the letter, they also highlight the need for increased staffing, enhanced resources and better training, and denounce the recent reduction in hours of service at more than a quarter of CBSA land ports of entry.

Read their letter, below.

Dear Mr. Weber,

We are writing to you on behalf of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in light of the recent call by United States President-elect, Donald Trump, for tighter security measures at the Canada-United States border. As you know, New Democrats have worked tirelessly over the years in Parliament to advocate for increased staffing, enhanced resources, and better training for the members of the Customs Immigration Union (CIU). We have been consistently critical of the cuts made a decade ago by the Harper Conservatives and have repeatedly called on the Trudeau Liberals to reinstate the necessary border officers and ensure staffing levels meet our country’s security needs.

Additionally, we have actively advocated for increased training for border officers and the establishment of a new training facility in Windsor, Ontario. Now, more than ever, it is essential that the government take immediate action to hire the necessary 2,000-3,000 border officers. If the government is serious about addressing border security, the most effective way to demonstrate that commitment is through a significant increase in staffing. In October 2024, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced our plan to immediately rehire the 1,100 border officers cut by the former Conservative government, with additional officers to follow.

The NDP is also committed to listening to Canada’s frontline border officers and ensuring the adequate staffing needed to maintain effective service at all ports of entry. We recognize that on November 18, 2024, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced a reduction in service hours at more than a quarter of its land ports of entry, to align with the operational hours of U.S. border crossings. However, we firmly believe that cutting service hours is not the solution. Instead, the focus must be on hiring and training more CBSA officers to ensure that all ports remain adequately staffed.

Furthermore, we want to express the NDP’s full support for the repeal of the 1932 Order in Council, which assigned policing duties between border crossings to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) instead of to frontline CBSA officers. If the government is serious about border security, they know that our CBSA officers are best positioned to intercept contraband such as illegal firearms and combat human smuggling. The only barrier preventing our officers from carrying out this critical work is the outdated 1932 Order in Council. It is time for this statute to be repealed and for CBSA officers to take on their rightful role.

It is also time to hire more officers, establish a new training facility, and ensure that our frontline officers are no longer overburdened. By taking these steps, we can strengthen border security, support the dedicated officers working on the frontlines, and ensure that Canada’s border protection is as secure as it needs to be.

The NDP remains committed to securing Canada’s borders through long-term, thoughtful investments in our border services. As always, we will work alongside the Customs Immigration Union and all stakeholders to ensure a safe and sustainable future for our border security.
Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of frontline workers. We look forward to working together on these critical issues in the near future.

Sincerely,

Alistair MacGregor MP
NDP Public Safety Critic

Brian Masse MP
NDP Canada-US Border Critic

Click here for the original PDF version.

Letter to Minister LeBlanc: Expanding the role of border officers between ports of entry

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CIU National President Mark Weber sent the following letter to the Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, on December 2, 2024.

Dear Minister,

In the wake of the latest American presidential election, the last few weeks have brought renewed interest in the state of Canada’s borders, and in our country’s ability to adequately control the cross-border flow of people along with interdicting dangerous drugs and firearms.

In response to this renewed pressure, your government has signaled it was considering investing in drones and police helicopters, as well as redeploying existing RCMP officers to priority areas. I am glad to see the Canadian government take border security concerns to heart. A number of border threats have become prevalent in the last decade — notably illegal firearms, dangerous opioids, and human smuggling — and investing in our border is paramount.

I would like to suggest an additional course of action that will reinforce our capacity to better protect Canadian communities: Expanding the role of Canada Border Services Agency officers to allow them to act between ports of entry.

As you know, nothing in the Customs Act or the Immigration Refugee Protection Act prevents CBSA officers from performing their duties between ports of entry — in fact, the legislation explicitly provides for it. However, as confirmed to us by the Agency itself, law enforcement between ports of entry remains the purview of the RCMP due to a nearly century-old 1932 Order-in-Council still in effect.

With ongoing border security concerns, it would make sense for your government to revisit this decision and rely on the expertise of CBSA officers to help protect our borders at and between ports of entry. This is something the Customs and Immigration Union has long called for, and the time is right.

I am sure you’ll agree: A properly staffed border is a secure border. As such, in addition to investing in new tools like drones, it is crucial for the Canadian government to ensure a human presence at the border. CBSA officers are already trained with the border in mind and have a keen understanding of relevant laws and regulations. They are also already physically present at areas of importance. When considering the extensive mandate of the RCMP, empowering CBSA officers to act and patrol in between ports of entry in collaboration with RCMP officers is a logical step.

In light of this, I urge you to take the necessary steps — by reviewing the 1932 Order-in-Council and any other regulation necessary — to allow CBSA officers to perform the full extent of their functions at and between ports of entry. Doing so will send a strong signal that the Canadian government understands what is needed to protect our border and our communities.

I remain at your disposal should you wish to discuss this important matter in person, and I look forward to your response.

Yours truly,

Mark Weber
National President, Customs and Immigration Union

Click here for the original PDF version.