NDP public safety critic Peter Julien said the federal government should do more to consult with Canadians about plans to set up pre-checkpoints at the border and deploy Canadian Border Force agents to the mainland United States.
Julien told CBC News that if the government does not improve the consultation process and answer questions raised by groups such as the security guard union and the Canadian Bar Association, he may propose that the plan be considered by a parliamentary committee. He said there is.
“If the consultation has not been properly conducted and we are not getting an answer, I will have no hesitation in bringing it up for further consideration by the committee,” he said. “But the government still has an opportunity to do the right thing, and we will give it that opportunity over the next few days.”
CBC News reported last week that Ottawa plans to set up pre-clearance posts on the U.S. mainland to allow American personnel to work at Canadian border crossings. The move is described by the Customs and Immigration Union, which represents border officials, as a “game changer”.
The effort could begin as early as June as a two-year pilot project at the tiny Covey Hill/Cannon Corners border crossing between Quebec and New York. Canada Border Agency officers will move with their U.S. counterparts to the U.S. Border Station, approximately 200 meters from the Canada Border Agency.
Under the proposal, the CBSA would provide most of its usual services at pre-screening stations in the United States, but would have to refer asylum seekers to another border station on mainland Canada.
If approved, the federal government’s proposed regulations would allow the program to be expanded to other border crossings across the country.
Both the Customs and Immigration Union and the Canadian Bar Association say they have questions about how the program will work.
The public hearing period on the proposed regulations was scheduled to end on January 15th, but has been extended to January 30th. U.S. officials have not yet responded to requests for an interview from CBC News.
Mr Julien said the establishment of pre-clearance posts could help create jobs and facilitate cross-border trade flows. He also said the consultation period, which coincided with the Christmas holidays, was “inadequate”.
“There will be no consultation during the Christmas period and New Year,” he said. “Publishing something just before Christmas Eve and expecting feedback right after New Year’s Eve is a sham consultation. requires the ability to answer basic questions.” No response so far. ”
Mr Julien said he was also concerned by the fact that the government was describing the move as a cost-cutting move when the CBSA was already short of an estimated 800 Border Patrol agents.
“If the government is assuming that there is any cost benefit to this, then we are already short on hundreds of Border Patrol agents and have aging infrastructure,” he said. ” he said. “I think that’s misplaced given the concerns about illegal firearms and illegal drugs flowing across the border.”
“I was surprised but happy.”
Laura Dawson, executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said her group was surprised by the government’s notice of the proposed regulations, but welcomed it.
“I think we were all a little surprised but pleased,” she said.
Mr Dawson said he understood the small scale of the pilot project.
“There are a lot of things that need to be resolved with a whole new set of operating procedures,” she said.
Dawson said her group would like to see pre-clearance applied to cargo and extended to other land border crossings and other modes of travel, such as rail and sea.
“In addition to the various modes, the next thing we want to look at is pre-clearance of cargo. This is exactly what our members and cross-border businesses have been clamoring for for years, and we want to improve the inspection process. “Keep it away from the border,” she said.
“One day, we would like to be able to test on the factory floor and then seal the container and send it across the border.”
