Evidence of meeting #29 for Public Safety and National Security in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbsa.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
Mr. Chair, I thought I was going to make a comment. I withdrew my question, but I said I wanted to comment.
National President, Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise
But on the numbers, I think it's important that I clarify that these were the Northgate report numbers. We carried out a survey of strictly the border, the land border crossings. We had a 91% response; 2,200 officers responded.
So we drew from the border itself, and 88% said they wanted a sidearm. Another 10% said they didn't want one, but they recognized that the job requires one.
That's where our figures come from.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
As the current critic from the official opposition, I can say it's not only a question of dollars--even though the dollars are tax dollars, and in terms of accountability, you should have to answer, as the government has to answer about the costs of this operation—but it also is a matter of public safety, as far as I'm concerned
It's not only the public safety of the guards serving at borders--I was an inland immigration officer for three years, too--but it's also the safety of the travelling public. I think we have to examine the safety of the travelling public with respect to the arming situation.
So I don't want the question that was posed by my colleague from the opposition to reflect where I'm coming from on this issue. At this point in time, I just want to make the statement that it's everybody's safety that's important.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Thank you.
We're out of time. Does anybody else have a concluding comment?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Northgate Group
Thank you very much.
I had the pleasure of working with customs officers for over 21 years in my official function as an RCMP and a CSIS officer. In my last position at CSIS, as a matter of fact, I was the national coordinator for the point-of-entry interdiction program for counterterrorism. I worked with 3,000 of them on a regular basis.
As a very personal comment only, I had quite a lot of respect for the work they were doing then. Following this study, they earned not only more of my respect but they earned my gratitude. The conditions under which we found they were working were unbelievable. To see men and women, day and night, perform this all year long is only remarkable.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
I appreciate you saying that. I've had contact with border guards, and they tell me exactly the same thing, so I appreciate it.
Are there any other very brief comments?
Firearms Editor, Blue Line Magazine
I only want to correct one misperception.
There seems to be an idea that sidearms are going to be used to protect physical facilities, like buildings and fences. A sidearm is and always will be for the protection of life. It's the only justification for a sidearm, and it is going to be an important part of their training.
First National Vice-President, Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have one last comment.
Well, I was glad to hear today that border services officers will have pay raises now. I can go back and tell them that, because it seems evident now....
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
I would like to thank you all very much.
I'm sorry that we've gone over time.
Do you have a comment, Ms. Mourani?
Bloc
Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
I'd like to ask a question, Mr. Chairman, given the rather troubling statistics presented.
On the one hand, the border officer maintains that no deaths or assaults have been reported in 15 years, whereas the witness here maintains otherwise. To which cases is he referring? The two statements are like night and day.
Could you send us by...?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Northgate Group
I saw that you had a photocopy of the report...
President and Chief Executive Officer, Northgate Group
We mention these incidents in the report. The problem, however, is that we are not authorized to systematically collect data. However, we have catalogued a number of major incidents and these are mentioned in the report.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Northgate Group
In that case, we would need to draw up another report ...
President and Chief Executive Officer, Northgate Group
...so to speak, because data was not systematically catalogued. The report contained statistics, figures on the number of persons injured, and so forth.
Conservative