1,000 new border officers to be hired across Canada, including N.B.

The federal government is pledging more support for New Brunswick border services.

The federal government has reaffirmed its election commitment to hire 1,000 new Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers across the country, including ports of entry in New Brunswick.

The federal government’s plan includes an increase in stipends for CBSA recruits (from $125 to $525), as well as an amendment to the Public Service Superannuation Act to incorporate benefits for CBSA officers and other first responders in accordance with their responsibilities.

The plan will be included in next month’s federal budget, with $617 million in targeted funding over five years.

Saint John-Kennebecasis MP Waye Long, who is also secretary of state for the Canada Revenue Agency and financial institutions, made an announcement about the plan on Friday at the Canadian border crossing in Belleville, N.B. (near Woodstock, and within view of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Houlton, Maine).

“It’s of vital importance,” said Long. “Our world is different, we have more risk, we need to protect our border, we need to strengthen our country, we need to protect our sovereignty.”

At a similar announcement on Friday, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree insisted the plan had nothing to do with U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of drugs flowing across the border.

“This really is about enforcing Canada’s safety and security and our sovereignty,” said Anandasangaree. “This really is not a response to the U.S.”

There were no immediate details about where the additional CBSA officers would be assigned.

“Obviously Port Saint John is growing exponentially,” said Long. “There’ll be more CBSA support and services there. And I mean, they’ll be allocated at the crossings in areas where they’re needed. But I don’t have a specific breakdown for New Brunswick at this time.”

On Thursday, RCMP confirmed the arrest of three people in connection to a reported illegal border crossing from New Brunswick (near Grand Falls) into the United States last April. Long said the incident pointed to why more staff were needed to patrol border areas.

Sylvie Cormier, the superintendent at Woodstock’s point of entry, said “it very much helps when you have more employees.”

“We’re able to do more searches, get more firearms, illegal drugs, and keep inadmissible people outside of the country,” she said.