CBSA Arming Initiative
Evaluation Study

Notes

1. The Canada Border Services Agency's Arming Initiative, Fact Sheet, September 2009. [Return to text]
2. CBSA officers designated under subsection 138(1) of IRPA have powers and authorities as peace officers in respect of IRPA only and not the Criminal Code. [Return to text]
3. http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget06/bp/bpc3d-eng.asp#borders. [Return to text]
4. CBSA Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP), 2007-2008. [Return to text]
5. CBSA Intranet: Reference Manual, Arming Policies, Policy on the Use of Force. [Return to text]
6. It should be noted that prior to the establishment of the CBSA, training and the provision of equipment was provided to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Inland Enforcement in 1996 - preceding the training and the provision of equipment to CCRA customs officers in 2000. [Return to text]
7. Arming Initiative Project Charter, Final Version, June 2007. [Return to text]
8. The Canada Border Services Agency's Arming Initiative, Fact Sheet, September 2009. [Return to text]
9. Arming Initiative Project Charter, Final Version, June 2007. [Return to text]
10. As of October 14, 2009, the entire Arming Division and all employees were transferred from Operations Branch to the Human Resources Branch reporting to the Director General, Training and Learning Directorate. [Return to text]
11. This was the original intent, however at the time of the evaluation, Branch responsibility for Use of Force and Duty Firearm policies had not been determined. [Return to text]
12. Additional examples include: CBSA incident reports, CBSA communications plans, arming policies, the Departmental Performance Report (DPR) and Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP), etc. [Return to text]
13. Arming Initiative Project Charter, Final Version, June 2007. [Return to text]
14. http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget06/bp/bpc3d-eng.asp#borders. [Return to text]
15. CBSA Intranet: Reference Manual, Arming Policies, Policy on the Use of Force, Appendix A. CBSA officers designated under subsection 138(1) of IRPA have powers and authorities as peace officers in respect of IRPA only and not the Criminal Code. [Return to text]
16. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/agency-agence/reports-rapports/work-travail/2008incident-eng.html. [Return to text]
17. ICES Raw data. [Return to text]
18. CBSA operational statistics. [Return to text]
19. CBSA Departmental Performance Reviews (DPRs) (including unpublished input to DPR). [Return to text]
20. Annual Report: 2007-2008 Investigations Division. [Return to text]
21. Approved business cases included section J "Performance Report" outlining expected performance measures. [Return to text]
22. Inland enforcement officers. [Return to text]
23. Criminal investigations officers. [Return to text]
24. Regional intelligence officers. [Return to text]
25. In an airport the BSO may serve as the "point" in collecting declaration cards and directing persons to the appropriate secondary for examination. [Return to text]
26. For example, this situation could arise as a result of a security action during which a member of the public takes a duty firearm from a CBSA officer, or as the result of a family member or member of the public gaining access to a duty firearm while it is stored. [Return to text]
27. CBSA intranet, EAP: The Critical Incident Stress Management Service. [Return to text]
28. Arming Initiative Fact Sheet. The 10 highest volume land border ports of entry: Ambassador Bridge, Fort Erie, Detroit-Canada Tunnel, Blue Water Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, Queenston Bridge, Pacific Highway, Douglas, Sault Ste. Marie, Lacolle. [Return to text]
29. CBSA intranet, Arming Initiative Frequently Asked Questions, May 10, 2007. [Return to text]
30. CBSA Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP), 2007-2008. [Return to text]
31. CBSA Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) 2008-2009. [Return to text]
32. Arming Division, Human Resources Branch. [Return to text]
33. 4,262 officers will be certified based on current number certified and assuming an additional 500 officers certified per year from 2009-2010 to 2015-2016. [Return to text]
34. DFC course evaluations forms provided by the Arming Division, Operations Branch. [Return to text]
35. A duty firearm may be drawn while enforcing more than one Act. [Return to text]
36. The CBSA trains officers to draw their firearm when the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect the situation presents these types of risks. It should be noted that an Arming Division analysis of firearm seizures found that this risk was not suspected in all occurrences ― armed officers did not draw their duty firearms in all cases where firearms were seized. [Return to text]
37. Arming Division Incident Reports.[Return to text]
38. A duty firearm may be drawn for multiple reasons. [Return to text]
39. There were three work refusals in 2005 & 2006 in which the total number of employees involved were not known. [Return to text]
40. Other noted reasons for work refusals varied considerably from personal safety concerns (e.g., "working alone", "threats from a client") to issues with facilities (e.g., "unstable shelving in records room", "no potable water") and IT issues (e.g., "communications not working"). [Return to text]
41. CBSA intranet, Policy on Use of Force: "Officers trained in the use of control and defensive tactics (CDT) and in possession of defensive equipment are expected to manage situations involving persons who may be prone to violence and who may be in possession of a weapon, including a firearm, up to such point that the officer believes he or she has reached the limits of his or her training and personal abilities. Where these limits have been reached, the officer shall permit the individual to proceed into Canada and immediately notify the police force of jurisdiction." [Return to text]
42. Each letter may include more than one issue. [Return to text]
43. Adjustments reflect re-profiled funds, additional funding to address new pressures and funding cuts. [Return to text]
44. This figure is the actual year-to-date expenditure as at September 2009. [Return to text]
45. CBSA officers designated under subsection 138(1) of IRPA have powers and authorities as peace officers in respect of IRPA only and not the Criminal Code. [Return to text]
46. http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget06/bp/bpc3d-eng.asp#borders. [Return to text]
47. CBSA Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP), 2007-2008. [Return to text]