Guns on their hips, looking for info about your trip.

British Columbia’s southern border guards became some of the first in Canada to wear side arms this past weekend, as the Canadian Border Services Agency began to staff the Pacific Border Crossing at Surrey with armed officers. It’s the first in the eventual arming of all members of the service at all border crossings, including the Prince Rupert office.

There’s no word on when the local CBSA officers will be fully armed while on duty, but all will have to take comprehensive training program on the use of firearms. There are currently 4,800 officers who eventually will be trained and armed for duty, carrying a Beretta Px4 9mm handgun.

The Daily News featured the story as their front page item in Tuesday’s paper.

B. C. BORDER GUARDS AMONG THE FIRST TO START CARRYING GUNS
Feds plan to arm all officers in ‘points of entry’ but not timetable for Prince Rupert yet
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Page one

On Friday, the government announced that Canadian Borders Services Agents at the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey will be the next border guards to be armed, as guards at all crossings are incrementally equipped with weapons.

Langley MP mark Warawa made the announcement on behalf of Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day, part of a Canada-wide plan to enhance border guard’s law-enforcement effectiveness and safety as they fulfill their duties.

“Canada’s new government is committed to a safe, secure and efficient border. We have fulfilled another election promise by arming our border services officers and giving them the tools and resources they need to protect our border,” said Warawa.

“Our government is committed to protecting those who protect our border. Enhanced border security means safer communities>”

In 2006, the government dedicated $101 million to a two-year process of training and arming CBSA officers and eliminating ‘work-alone situations’.

A total of 4,800 officers will have duty firearms at all land and marine ports of entry, including those officers responsible for enforcement within the country. The government insists nothing else to do with the CBSA officer’s authority, mandate, duties or responsibilities will change as a result of being armed.

The firearms will simply allow officers to “be better prepared and trained to deal with a broader range of options when handling potentially dangerous situations,” according to a statement from the CBSA website.

CBSA officers who have been issued duty firearms thus far have all gone through a rigorous training program, and are required to fulfill ongoing proficiency requirements such as annual recertification. It was determined after their own decision process that the official CBSA duty firearm would be the Beretta Px4 9mm handgun, which Border Services says performed well during testing, and surpassed requirements for being light, reliable, safe and easy-to-use.

In addition to the Pacific Highway crossing, the Ministry of Public Safety also announced Friday the deployment of armed officers at the Peace Bridge crossing in Fort Erie, Ontario.