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Mayor to meet with CBSA over Canada Day comments

by Erin Perkins on 09 Jul 2012
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Mayor Brian Taylor presiding over council last year; Photo, Mona Mattei
Mayor Brian Taylor presiding over council last year; Photo, Mona Mattei

Grand Forks mayor Brian Taylor will be meeting with officials from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) after comments he made during his annual Canada Day speech this year.

Taylor openly criticized the CBSA for being too tough on American tourists and locals, thereby making the border crossing experience a “frightening” one for many people.

Some people were shocked by the speech, others appeared to be in agreement.

In his speech, Taylor was supposed to be discussing the War of 1812, which happened 200 years ago. The subject took a different turn when he began thinking about Canada’s relationship with the U.S.

“It was a dirty little war,” said Taylor when reflecting on what the speech was about. “I was looking at what that war tells us – across the border we have people we need to get along with.”

He recalled a time in the 1970s when all people would do was wave to the guard as they passed the border. While he knows it won’t ever be like that again after 9/11, he said, “they can do this job and still be polite to people”.

“I want to look at ways to make the trip across the border less confrontational and less stressful for people.”

He said people who do have complaints are afraid that if they say anything they will be singled out the next time they cross.

 “We take the border protection responsibility really seriously,” said CBSA chief Eron Labadie from his Osoyoos office. “The officers live and work in the community and they take great pride in what they do. They work on a daily basis to protect people in their community.”

Labadie personally worked as a CBSA officer at the Carson/Danville crossing in Grand Forks for two and a half years. He said the officers have a challenging job, especially now the objectives of the agency have changed.  Over the past decade CBSA has moved from being mainly a duty collecting based organization to a nationally relevant crime protection agency.

CBSA officers are responsible for over 90 governmental acts and regulations, many of which focus on keeping known criminals out of Canada and seizing illegal weapons.

Taylor will be meeting with CBSA officials next week to discuss his ideas further and to address the concerns he brought up in the speech.

“I hope positive things (will come from the meeting) to help them do their job. I hope to play a role in helping make for a friendlier experience at the border.”

Comments

Add a third vote

by Mountain Mitch on 11 Jul 2012 at about 14:17.

I cross the border at least twenty times a year; often with legal declared firearms. Like the previous commentors I have never had a problem. I consider it a privilege to be able to cross into another country so easily and I recognise that the border officials have the very onerous task of ensuring that customs rules are not breached, that agricultural prohibitions are respected and that security is maintained - as well as seeing that a myriad of more technical regulations are observed.

I have found that if you treat the border officer as another person with a responsible job and LISTEN and answer their questions truthfully and in a straightforward fashion you will have no problem. You should also do some preparation for crossing the border so that you understand the rules and don't accidentally breach them. For example, it is fairly straightforward to transport a firearm into the US or back into Canada IF you comply with all the necessary regulations and have a clean background.

One of the main issues with US citizens coming into Canada is that they may not understand the restrictions on bringing firearms into this country. This is more a matter of education than disobedience. Perhaps Grand Forks would be prepared to pay for a billboard on the US side advising visitors of the rules so that they can ensure they comply.

Rolls Eyes

by Bosco on 10 Jul 2012 at about 22:23.

I for one have never had an issue crossing the border going either direction.

Customs like Police Officers have a very thankless job, not to mention they are the last line of defense for our country. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen both Canadians and Americans caught lying in front of me and an officer opening their trunk to discover things that were not claimed or told about. I have even seen an incident where a hand gun was pulled out of a trunk of a car talk about scary.

As for this so called people that feel threatened or scared and what not, why feel that way? If you haven't done anything wrong and are honest  you will be fine. If you have criminal charges or have a shady past expect to be questioned plain and simple!

There has been countless incidents in this area alone of criminal activity from both American and Canadians coming across the border, so if people feel a little scared because they are being questioned or grilled about their activities, I have to say I am not going to lose any sleep over it. You are coming to a different country so expect to be questioned and searched. Don't expect it to be like checking into the Hilton; get real!

Grand Forks is lucky to even have a crossing to begin with, but Mr. Taylor makes it sounds like every American and Canadian have issues coming across and that is BS. I have a lot of friends that come up from the states all the time and they always tell me how polite the guards are on the Canada side and I have seen it firsthand.

As a taxpayer I would rather them do this then let someone or something in that could hurt someone in our country.

A lot has changed since 1970 Mr. Mayor, and the sooner you see that the better off we will be. The Hippy Era died a long time ago so get over it. Stick with your small town politics and trying to legalize marijuana, and leave the border stuff to the big boys.

The laws are pretty clear as you approach the border that you could be questioned and searched, if you don't like it don't cross the border plan and simple!

Border Security officials are doing their job!

by greencitizen on 11 Jul 2012 at about 13:29.

I have relatives in the USA, and I also like to visit nearby Colville and Spokane, so I cross the border fairly often.  I've been doing this for 40 years, and I have NEVER encountered a rude or surly official on EITHER side. 

I've been asked lots of pertinent questions.  I've had my trunk and luggage inspected.  But I've never had any reason to feel scared or intimidated, because I answer the questions truthfully and I know I'm not smuggling or carrying anything illegal across the border, in either direction.  When this process is completed, the interview most often concludes with "Welcome home," "Have a nice evening," or similar polite remarks. 

I would find it a lot scarier if we did NOT have our conscientious CBSA men and women asking the right questions and doing their best to keep things out of our country that we don't want here, like handguns, pornography, drugs, pedophiles and other known criminals, etc.  These officers are indeed a vital part of the law enforcement process, with an important job to do.  In my experience, they do this job in a businesslike but pleasant manner.  

Visitors to our country who are straightforward and truthful, and not crirminals, have nothing to worry about.  The rules about who and what can cross the border into Canada are completely reasonable, and I believe most citizens want these enforced. 

Maybe the Mayor could work on establishing a "Warm Welcome Station" a little way inside the border crossing point, open to all who clear the Customs process, oerhaps with treats and information about all the fun things to do, places to go, things to see, etc.  That would be a better use of time and resources  than criticizing the CBSA officers for properly doing their jobs. 

Can you imagine how the Americans would laugh if we suggested that their border officials should not be asking questions of or performing searches on anyone crossing into the United States?!?!?   I'm laughing just thinking about it.  Have a nice day!