Take action: oversight at the border
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- Published on Thursday, 15 June 2017 12:00
- Written by editor
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Dear PAOV,
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has vast powers.
At the border, these officers have an even wider range of powers than police.
Yet despite these sweeping police powers, they are the only major policing force in Canada with no independent oversight or accountability.
This needs to change now.
Today, we released an important report proposing a model for oversight of the Canada Border Services Agency.
We need your help to ensure that these recommendations are implemented.
CBSA officers deal with extremely vulnerable populations.
In 2016, after two people died in CBSA custody in under a week, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale committed to creating an independent accountability mechanism for the CBSA.
We are glad to see this important commitment. A year later, it is time for action.
Call on Minister Goodale to immediately implement oversight that is credible and effective.
While accountability for CBSA is much needed and long overdue, implementing CBSA oversight is far from the only action needed on this issue. Other longstanding problems, like the practice of detaining migrants indefinitely in correctional facilities, sometimes alongside maximum security federal inmates, must urgently be addressed.
The BCCLA will continue to work alongside other advocacy and human rights groups to see changes to these harmful CBSA practices.
We are anticipating news on national security reforms as soon as Tuesday— please take action today!
Sincerely,
Laura Track, BCCLA Community Lawyer
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