Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree confirmed he has directed O’Gorman to deliver a report within 90 days on the agency’s technology issues. Speaking from the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, Anandasangaree said the government remains confident in the reliability of its systems, though he acknowledged the need for expedited responses when outages occur.
To address staffing shortages and improve border security, Ottawa is investing $617.7 million over five years to recruit and train new CBSA personnel. The initiative fulfills a campaign pledge and will fund new benefits, including a stipend increase for recruits from $125 to $525 per week. Roughly 80 percent of the new hires will be armed officers, while the rest will serve as intelligence and investigative staff. Anandasangaree emphasized that the additional staff will ensure smoother operations and strengthen efforts to prevent illegal trafficking across Canadian borders.
The government’s plan also allows frontline workers to retire after 25 years of service without penalty, a reform that was first announced earlier this year. While the Liberal plan proposes 1,000 hires, the opposition Conservatives have criticized the rollout, pointing out that their party had proposed doubling that number during the last election campaign. Conservative critic Frank Caputo called the announcement delayed, accusing the government of political posturing instead of swift action.
As the United States increases scrutiny of its northern border, particularly over concerns about fentanyl trafficking, Anandasangaree rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that the drug is “pouring” in from Canada. He stated that Canadian data shows fentanyl primarily originates from Asian sources, not domestic export. CBSA has seized 2.48 kilograms of fentanyl so far this year, which officials say underscores ongoing vigilance but not the scale described by Washington.
The CBSA will also expand its training capacity at its Rigaud, Quebec college to accommodate the influx of recruits. O’Gorman said the agency is well-prepared to meet training needs, citing lower attrition rates this year. The investment marks one of Ottawa’s largest modern border security efforts in recent years, blending operational reform with technological renewal in response to rising cross-border pressure and outdated infrastructure.
