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MP Atamanenko slams cuts to border services
Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, slammed the Conservative Government for slashing services at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and putting Canadian public safety and business at risk.
“These cuts could end up costing Canadians more than they save,” said Atamanenko.
The CBSA faces a $143.4 million cut to its current budget. Canada is cutting back on border officers at a time it is introducing comprehensive changes on “perimeter security” with the United States, strengthening ties to harmonize regulations and processes with the United States.
“I have spent time at some of our border crossings and have a deep appreciation of the work our Canadian Border Service officers do. They turn back illegal weapons, keep drugs and criminals out of our country and collect the necessary duties that protect Canadian businesses and supplement our tax base,” stated the NDP MP.
“To be faced with a reduction of personnel at our border crossings is ludicrous. It seems a contradiction to the government’s so-called tough-on-crime” focus.   Let’s also not forget that border service officers and their families help contribute to the local economies of our rural communities.”
According to NDP International Trade Critic Brian Masse, by slashing jobs and cutting the CBSA’s budget, the Conservatives are guaranteeing lost business and weakening public safety for Canadians.
“Fewer border services officers mean longer wait times for Canadian travellers and lost revenue for businesses stuck clearing customs instead of moving goods. For every extra minute trucks are stuck idling at border plazas, thousands of dollars are lost.”
Masse also points out that Conservative mishandling of the border will compromise public safety while diminishing government tariff revenues.
“First and foremost, fewer border officers mean a greater likelihood for guns and drugs to sneak over the border. But in their reckless attempts to save money, Conservatives will also miss out on valuable revenue that comes from tariffs,” said Masse.
“Our government should not be playing with the safety of Canadians. We should be increasing staff at border crossings instead of slashing jobs,” concluded the BC Southern Interior MP.
Above picture: Re-construction at the Kingsgate Border Crossing near Yahk was recently completed, with traffic once again flowing in an orderly fashion.
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