As an employee of the CBSA and in Windsor I can speak to the comments by copper_43. As Recce Guy stated Border Services Officer require the "Restricted PALS" for employment as we handle several different firearms. I have seen everything short of an M109 attempt to be smuggled into Canada.
"When you apply to the Border Service for a job you must have completed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, << this course covers virtually nothing on Restricted or Prohibited Firearms (hand guns). I have a few friends who work for the CBSA and they will tell you to look at the roof over the the vehicle inspection area for bullet holes, they then go on to say that each hole was put there by unqualified CBSA personnel because they can't handle guns. One agent actually fired a .44 through a gas tank when the gun fired as she picked it up with her finger on the trigger."
I have worked for Customs for several years at the 2 busiest ports in Canada and I can remember 1 accidental discharge, an officer was told by the traveler the shotgun was unloaded and did not check and shot the motor homes fridge. The reasoning behind the need for a formal firearms safety course. The officer was fired.
"My own experience in Pearson: After traveling to the Middle East on Air Canada and then back again, after being cleared in Tel Aviv (which is quite extensive) I was stopped by a screener in Pearson who ripped out the inside of my shaving kit bag because he saw a knife on the x-ray, the knife had a one inch blade and was totally rusted shut, I lost it years ago. He then proceeded to read me the riot act and told me my knife was confiscated. On my flight out of Pearson I was handed a stainless steal knife for my supper with a 6 inch blade. What a joke"
Not CBSA, that would be airport security.
"- I also know of a man in his late 50s who tried to enter Canada at Windsor, he had a tool box in the back of his truck, upon searching the tool box it was discovered there was a machete blade rusted to the bottom of the box, 2 inspectors with the aid of a screw driver from the box, they pryed the rusted blade from the box. Fined him for having this blade and banned him from Canada for 6 months."
That would be an illegal seizure and I have not seen something to that extreme. If the machete was in the driver's compartment and/or concealed, then it might be subject to seizure. If this did happen to the person you know, tell him to write a letter of complaint and if the facts are as you stated them, he will get his money back, an apology and the officers would face serious discipline.
Customs cannot ban anyone from Canada, Immigration can. They have 3 options;
Voluntary Withdrawal-if the traveller has a criminal record or other factors make him a "non-genuine visitor" Immigration can give him an allowed to leave. To re-enter Canada they have to follow the instruction given by the Immigration Officer;
Exclusion-They are excluded by Canada for a period of 1 year (it is only given in a 1 year increment). If they attempt re-entry they can be arrested and can be formally deported.
Deportation-The are banned from Canada for life
There are ways to get these orders cancelled and that is issued from the Federal Courts or the Immigration Minister.
You are right that the CBSA does not put the recruit on a payroll, they receive $125/week (and yes it is taxed). The reasoning behind this is that too many people were using Customs as a stepping stone to policing. As one of our K9 handlers put it, we are the "cop's farm team". CBSA now wants to hire people who want to be there.
With the comment about ex-military not being hired, is erroneous. At the Tunnel there are several ex-members and current reservists.
1 PPCLI Sgt,
1 PO2,
1 2RCHA WO,
1 Cpl 1 RCR,
1 Cpl Med A
Also a recently retired Officer (rank unknown) from the Navy was just hired, she is currently in Rigaud. These are the recent retiree's hired within the past 3 years.
For reservists there is a Capt, MWO, 2 Sgts, 1 PO2, 1 MCpl and 1 Cpl. That is for approx 125 employees, so I would say the military is well represented for Customs.
CBSA does hire a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, but something a lot of them have in common is formal post secondary education. No Offence George, but the reports that would be written by a Cpl would not be sufficient experience. Customs enforces over 70 pieces of legislation and must have a working knowledge of all of them. We must articulate our thoughts and suspicions on paper and in court. If you do not have the skills to do this, your job becomes very difficult and you will lose in court. That is one of the hardest parts of the job is to put on paper or in words your "gut instinct"
. Just wondering your thoughts and opinions; please expand on your thoughts though, don't be like "customs suck". Why? What can we do to make things better? Are we equipped enough to look out for those "terrorists" and illegal guns being brought in (more so on the land boarders)
