http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs ... 80303/1002

Article published May 8, 2006
Canadian border agents getting their wish: Guns
Conservative Party makes good on campaign promise

By MOLLY MONTAG
Times Herald

SARNIA - Canadian border agents finally will get guns.

Canada's Conservative Party, which has assumed majority in the country's government, put campaign promise into action Tuesday when it allotted $101 million in the next two years to arm the border.

While officials are unsure how long it will take to arm the agents, at least they know it's on its way. That's good news to area motorists, who faced long delays when guards walked off the job in protest prior to January's election.

Mary Lou Haight, 69, of Marysville said she will feel safer on the Blue Water Bridge knowing the agents are armed.

"It's not only protecting them, it's protecting everyone," she said.

Long wait
Melisa Leclerc, director of communications for Canada's Minister of Public Safety, said the funding doesn't mean agents will be brandishing weapons tomorrow.

"It usually takes a couple of years before they receive proper training," Leclerc said. "I don't see it happening next month."

There are four major Canada-Michigan border crossings - the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, the Detroit and Canada Tunnel, the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron and a crossing in Sault Ste. Marie.

Locally, travelers also can take ferries across the St. Clair River at Algonac and Marine City.

Veronica Bailey of Port Huron said guns would help the border guards deal with dangerous situations.

"It's crazy to be in a position like that and not be able to defend yourself," she said.

Officials said arming the guards could take anywhere from two to ten years. The budget calls for $33 million in 2006-07 for the effort and another $68 million in 2007-08. Union officials said the funding includes doubling up solo guards stationed at remote posts, where help may be hours away.

Ron Moran, president of the union representing the border workers, hoped the two-year funding means faster money.

"They say that because there were two, five-year phases on the U.S. side," Moran said. "We're certainly hoping it won't be as long as that."

Leclerc said the government hasn't released a time frame yet.

"Right now, we will go over different options - and depending on which option is chosen, we will have an announcement."

Hot issue
Historically, the money was held up because the outgoing Liberal Party had an idealistic view of security, Moran said.

"As Canadians, we all like to live in a country without an armed presence at the border. The reality is we don't live in Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, by any definition," he said, referring to the children's TV program.

The Conservative Party of Canada won control of the government during elections in January.

Agents walked off the job twice in months leading up to the election. In January, the walk-off shut down ferry service at the Marine City-Sombra, Ontario, and Algonac-Walpole Island, Ontario, sites. It also backed up traffic into downtown Port Huron and on Interstate 69.

The Blue Water Bridge is Canada's second-busiest commercial trucking port and the fifth busiest for cars. Bill Elliot, the Canadian Border Service Agency's director for St. Clair District, said Blue Water Bridge agents process more than 4.5 million vehicles each year.

The Michigan Department of Transportation said about 14,000 to 20,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily.

Marla Stottlemyre of Warren isn't sure she supports Canadian border guards toting weapons, but it isn't because guns alarm her. "We see that everywhere for protection," she said.

Stottlemyre, 44, travels to Port Huron to see her sister. On some of her visits, she will cross into Canada via the Blue Water Bridge. She's more concerned with the guards getting proper training.

About 2,600 Canadian agents are stationed along the border. The number swells to nearly 4,000 including airports and marine ports.

Locally, about 120 guards work the Blue Water Bridge and another 14 are spread between the Sombra-Marine City and Walpole Island-Algonac crossings.