Canadian Border Guards to be Armed Finally!!!

[Bryan]

Tories to fulfill promise to arm border guards
Updated Wed. Jan. 25 2006 4:29 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Conservative justice critic Vic Toews announced Wednesday that Canadian border guards will be armed as soon as possible.

The move will make good on a Tory campaign promise to beef up border security and respond to border guards' long standing plea for arms.

"It's simply a practical matter of how soon these officers can be trained and the firearms issued to them," Toews said.

"That's our commitment and I trust our minister will do exactly that."

The quick announcement, made just two days after the party was elected into office, may have been speeded up by an incident Tuesday when two murder suspects in the U.S. made a run for the Canadian border.

They were stopped by a police shootout mere metres before the Canadian border.

One of the suspects was injured in the shootout.

Canadian guards at the Peace Arch border crossing, and at three others, walked off the job in fear of their own safety when they heard the suspects were headed their way.

The border was closed for about seven hours as the result of the shootout and ensuing investigation.

B.C.'s Solicitor General John Les called on the new government to provide arms and training to border guards, following the incident.

"I think they need to be armed," Les said, according to CP. "We sometimes have some not very nice people who want to try and get into our country."

Toews pledged that guards will be armed just as soon as they can be properly trained and equipped with the firearms.

He said he was disturbed that the guards abandoned their posts, but said he understands if they felt their lives were in danger.

Guards who feel their lives are in danger have the legal right to refuse to work, according to a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency.

The fleeing suspects, considered dangerous by police, had tried to outrun officers in a high-speed chase down Interstate 5 in Washington state. The pursuit reached speeds of 160 km/hr.

Both men have been taken into federal custody in Washington and are awaiting extradition to California.

The Conservatives were elected on a platform that pledged to bolster border security to stop the flow of illegal guns being smuggled in from the U.S.

In addition to his promise to arm border guards, Harper said he would also restore port police service which has been disbanded by the Liberal government. Port security is now handled by local law enforcement officials.

Canada's border services union threatened to strike in 2005 in an effort to force the government to provide them with guns in order to protect themselves.

Currently, the RCMP is called on to deal with perceived threats.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

[MP_Steve]

I wasn't aware that they were not armed. Then again, I really never paid attention. I thought it was only the Brits who didn't carry guns :D

[Frogdiver]

Glad it finally came about. They have been working in less than safe conditions for too long.
Congrats guys ( and gals ).

[ngcsubutterbar]

Ok, well now we have to change our invasion plans. Hmmm, Toronto seems to be the best first strike point now.

[jonesg11]

This is excellent news and another good reason why the Conservatives should have been elected a long time ago!

[FSCF3801]

I too am glad that my brothers and sisters on the other side of the border are finally getting the protection that they need!!!!!

[Clint]

Outstanding, I know a few of them at various bridges in our area. There just like us. It was long overdue.

[metallicat]

This better be a unanimous decision in the House of Commons. Anyone that votes against it is completely wrong. The problem with the Tory minority government, is it's always possible something like this will fail.

[Jynkxxie]

Guess I am gonna need to watch my P's and Q's a little better now. :p

[metallicat]

Alright, I'm reading on another message board that this doesn't have to be voted on in Parliament...is this correct? Since border guards are already peace officers, there is no need to make any legislative changes, meaning authorizing them to carry sidearms is not a difficult change? Can you confirm this Bryan, or Greg?

[Norm357]

But I thought Canadians couldnt shoot worth a durn?:confused: :p

[Creeker]

I guess this is what happens when we export our gun violence... we get armed Canadian border guards.

BTW, it was just pointed out to me that Para Ordinance is manufactured in Canada.

[Bryan]

Alright, I'm reading on another message board that this doesn't have to be voted on in Parliament...is this correct? Since border guards are already peace officers, there is no need to make any legislative changes, meaning authorizing them to carry sidearms is not a difficult change? Can you confirm this Bryan, or Greg?

I don't have first hand knowledge of the act, but from what I have read, this legislation is already in place, so It doesn't need to be passed, the government didn't want to armed them for what ever reason.

The Federal Dept of Fisheries and Oceans (which have the same border enforcement mandate as the CBSA) they are armed with the same 9 MM S&W as we are. In fact, they train at Depot. For the life of me, I will never understand why the CBSA were not armed until now.

[Bryan]

But I thought Canadians couldnt shoot worth a durn?:confused:

Take that!!!!!!!
http://www.snipercountry.com/Article...2430Metres.asp


:p

[Dalice]

A big congratulations on Canada finally agreeing to help you do your jobs SAFELY