Canada to Hire 1,000 New CBSA Officers to Enhance Border Security

The Canadian federal government has announced plans to recruit 1,000 new officers for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), a move aimed at bolstering border security across the nation. The initiative was revealed in a statement from Prime Minister Mark Carney‘s office on March 15, 2024. These new hires will focus on addressing important issues such as the trafficking of stolen goods, illegal firearms, and drugs, as well as enforcing import regulations and investigating unfair trade practices.

In addition to the recruitment of new officers, the government is also increasing the CBSA’s recruitment stipend for the first time since 2005, raising it from $125 to $525 per week. This financial incentive aims to attract more candidates to the border services sector, which currently employs approximately 8,500 frontline members. The planned hires would represent a significant increase of over 10 percent in the agency’s workforce.

Strategic Focus on Ports of Entry

Border security analyst Keith Cozine from St. John’s University praised the government’s initiative, calling it a positive step forward but noting that challenges remain. Cozine highlighted the critical role that ports of entry, particularly airports, play in border security. He stated, “From a U.S. perspective, I’ve always viewed the Achilles heel when it comes to border security in Canada being the ports of entry. That’s where individuals entering Canada eventually cross the border into the U.S., and some of those have posed security threats.”

The initiative is set to be included in the upcoming federal budget, with an estimated $617 million allocated over the next five years. Gary Anandasangaree, the Minister of Public Safety, confirmed these details during a press conference, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enhancing border security.

The proposed changes also include amendments to the Public Service Superannuation Act, which will provide better recruitment and retirement options for federal employees after 25 years of service. These changes will apply to various frontline workers, including border services officers, firefighters, paramedics, and correctional officers.

Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation

Cozine noted that Canada relies heavily on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and provincial law enforcement, as it does not have a dedicated border patrol agency like the United States. “Organized crime and transnational organized crime have a long history of adapting and innovating to overcome the security measures that we put in place to try and stop them,” he explained.

There has been an increasing emphasis on collaboration between Canada and the United States regarding border security issues. Cozine pointed out the productive meeting in August between U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Canadian Justice Minister Sean Fraser as a sign of this trend. Recently, the introduction of a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to empower the Secretary of Homeland Security to negotiate cross-border cooperation agreements.

Despite these advancements, the Canadian government is advancing a separate bill that would grant authorities access to personal information, a proposal that has drawn considerable criticism from various groups. The government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing contemporary challenges in safeguarding national and international security.