OTTAWA – The union representing Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) workers has expressed disappointment regarding the federal government's recent decision to allocate funding aimed at hiring private sector guards to work in immigration holding centres. The union argues that the responsibilities of these guards should be handled by federal staff instead.
The government's spring economic update earmarked $238 million in funding for the CBSA to recruit guards with enhanced security training for immigration holding centres. Notably, $153 million of this funding is expected to be sourced from existing departmental resources.
Canada has four immigration detention facilities located in Surrey, British Columbia; Toronto, Ontario; Laval, Quebec; and Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec.
According to Luke Reimer, a spokesperson for the CBSA, the allocated funding is not intended for expanding guard resources but rather to ensure the continuity of service as existing guards’ contracts expire. He clarified that while the CBSA staff do not perform guard duties, they oversee detention placements, keep detainees informed about their immigration cases, meet detainees, and monitor their behavior.
Reimer added that hundreds of contracted guards are necessary for the CBSA to maintain the care and control of detainees. He emphasized that the responsibility and accountability for the care, custody, and oversight of detainees ultimately lies with the CBSA. He stated, "Given the limited role contractors play, it is important to emphasize that the CBSA itself maintains overall responsibility for ensuring that conditions of detention align with Canadian and international standards, and that detainee rights are respected and upheld at all times."
As of May 15, the CBSA had seven active contracts with the Garda Canada Security Corporation and GardaWorld, totaling approximately $248 million. Additionally, there is one contract with Commissionaires BC valued at about $11.7 million.
Mark Weber, national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, expressed dissatisfaction in an email, stating that it is "disappointing" for the government to continue relying on the private sector instead of engaging federal public service law enforcement professionals. He pointed out the sensitive nature of detention scenarios within immigration contexts and referenced a past tragic incident involving a detainee, Lucia Vega Jimenez, in 2014. Jimenez died by suicide while in a facility staffed by private guards, reinforcing the union's call for federal employees to handle guard responsibilities.
The 42-year-old Jimenez was discovered unresponsive in a Vancouver airport holding cell in December 2013 and was removed from life support a week later. Following an inquest into her death, a British Columbia coroner’s jury recommended constructing a new immigration holding centre within a 30-minute radius of Vancouver's airport, staffed by CBSA employees.
Weber criticized the government's continued reliance on private contractors to fulfill advanced responsibilities in immigration detention facilities despite prior recommendations. He underscored the necessity for the highest caliber of personnel to ensure safety for all involved, citing that "past experience shows that the private sector has often failed to meet that standard." He said, "As per CBSA's own policy, detention should be a last resort, but with serious cases posing a public safety risk it is sometimes unavoidable."
In defense of the use of contracted guards, Reimer highlighted that these guards perform essential duties such as security, transportation of detainees within the facility, and visitor management. He noted that some contracted guards possess advanced training to handle higher-risk detainees. This specialized training includes standard first aid certifications, CPR, restraint techniques, and refreshing skills in areas such as de-escalation, mental health, suicide prevention, self-harm, hostage situations, and substance abuse and addiction.
