About 200 border security agents staged a peaceful surprise portest at Montreal's international airport today to protest budget cuts and job losses, and a threat to Canadian security

About 200 border security agents staged a peaceful surprise portest at Montreal's international airport today to protest budget cuts and job losses, and a threat to Canadian security.
Photo Credit: Louise Gravel via Radio-Canada

Border agents protest cuts, saying security comprised

Passengers at the busy Montreal-Trudeau International Airport were presented with a surprise protest demonstration this morning, although no flights were delayed.

A group of public servants and border agents were picketing to protest budget cuts and job losses.

In a press release, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) said about 200 members were protesting the loss of about 1300 positions and some C$143 million in budget cuts they say will necessarily mean less border security.

The positions include front-line border workers, sniffer-dog teams and intelligence officials of the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA)

CBSA agent waves a car over for secondary inspection at a US-Canada border crossing. Budget cuts starting in 2012 have meant a dwindling number of agents at entry points and for other inspections, cush aas ship and plane cargo
CBSA agent waves a car over for secondary inspection at a US-Canada border crossing. Guns and drugs are often smuggled into Canada from the US at such crossings. Budget cuts starting in 2012 have meant a dwindling number of agents at entry points and for other inspections, cush aas ship and plane cargo © CP file

“You would have to be out of touch with reality to think that Canadians will be safe without a sufficient number of well-trained border services workers at all points of entry,” stated Jean‑Pierre Fortin, President of the Customs and Immigration Union representing 10,400 members.

Jean-Pierre Fortin, president of the Customs and Immigration Union. He says the group will continue to put pressure on the government to backtrack on job cuts which he says puts Canadian security at risk
Jean-Pierre Fortin, president of the Customs and Immigration Union. He says the group will continue to put pressure on the government to backtrack on job cuts which he says puts Canadian security at risk © CBC

Quoted by Radio-Canada, he said that without the necessary personnel to screen passengers, Canada would become an easy target for illegal immigrants, and drug and gun smuggling at ports, border crossings, and airports.

A sniffer dog and his border services handler at a Montreal warehouse checking incoming cargo. Staff reductions also include a reduction in the number of these teams which union officials say puts Canadians at risk
A sniffer dog and his border services handler at a Montreal warehouse checking incoming cargo. Staff reductions also include a reduction in the number of these teams which union officials say puts Canadians at risk © Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

To mitigate the loss of personnel the CBSA has installed “automated border clearance” kiosks (ABC) at three airports in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The union officials point out that while the kiosks can scan passports and customs declaration cards, they cannot detect false declarations.

Since the machines were introduced in Montreal, siezures at the airport have dropped by 25 percent.

 Cocaine was among the top three drugs seized by the CBSA between 2007 and 2012. A shipment of pineapples intercepted at the Port of Saint John, N.B., in 2011 concealed cocaine valued at $3.5 million, according to the CBSA.
Cocaine was among the top three drugs seized by the CBSA between 2007 and 2012. A shipment of pineapples intercepted at the Port of Saint John, N.B., in 2011 concealed cocaine valued at $3.5 million, according to the CBSA. Union officials say people and dogs are far better at detecting smugglin of drugs guns and people than are machines © Canada Border Services Agency photo/Marketwire

“We can’t replace people with machines if it compromises the safety of Canadians,” added Magali Picard, Regional Executive Vice-President of PSAC-Quebec.

Union officials said they will continue with every legal means to make the public aware of the situation and to try to get the government to reverse the cuts.

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