Kiosk malfunctions causing delays for travelers at select Canadian airports have been labeled as unacceptable by the head of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Toronto Pearson Airport recently experienced a disruption at its inspection kiosks, resulting in passenger delays in two terminals, highlighting ongoing issues with the aging IT infrastructure of the CBSA.
CBSA President Erin O’Gorman emphasized the need for reliable systems, acknowledging the existence of legacy systems and contingency plans but stressing the importance of preventing downtime incidents. A previous system outage last month reportedly hindered border officers from reviewing security flags related to truck drivers entering the country from the United States.
In response to recent technology challenges, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has requested a detailed report from O’Gorman within 90 days. Anandasangaree assured the public that efforts are made to promptly address any outages to ensure the smooth operation of border services.
During a news conference at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, Ont., Anandasangaree announced the government’s commitment to hiring 1,000 new border personnel as part of a campaign promise. The federal government plans to enhance recruitment measures by increasing the weekly stipend for new recruits and facilitating retirement for existing officers without affecting their pensions.
The investment of $617.7 million over five years for these initiatives is separate from a previous $1.3-billion border enforcement effort. The newly hired personnel, including armed officers and various security personnel, are expected to play a crucial role in maintaining border security and preventing illegal activities such as trafficking.
Opposition MPs have raised questions regarding the training of the influx of new officers at the Canada Border Services Agency. Efforts are underway to increase training capacity at the primary officer training college in Rigaud, Que., to accommodate the growing number of recruits.
The decision to hire additional personnel coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s focus on border security issues, particularly regarding the entry of fentanyl into the United States from Canada. Despite Trump’s claims, CBSA reported seizing a relatively small amount of fentanyl this year, emphasizing the need for cooperation to combat drug trafficking effectively. Liberal MP Wayne Long underscored the importance of addressing concerns raised by the U.S. to strengthen collaborative efforts in border security.
The move to bolster border personnel reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing border security measures and responding to evolving challenges in maintaining border integrity and safety.