For Immediate Release September 1, 2006

“$101 Million to improve Canada’s Border Security”

Ottawa (September 1, 2006) -- Ed Komarnicki, MP, (Souris-Moose Mountain). “The Budget 2006 announcement of $101 Million over two years to improve Canada’s border security is a step in the right direction”, said Komarnicki. “It will impact points of entry and Canada Border Service Officers including those within my constituency.”

“Overall 400 new permanent border security officers will be hired to eliminate ‘work alone’ border posts and the existing 4,400 border officers will be trained and equipped with side-arms”, said Komarnicki.

“Those who work at our borders must be provided with the equipment and training necessary to ensure that they are able to face each and every situation that may arise at border sites. At our borders we can expect weapon seizures, drug seizures, currency seizures from proceeds of crime, and other situations to arise, any of which may involve high risk individuals” said Komarnicki.

Providing border officers with side-arms and weapons training, as well as ensuring that work alone sites are eliminated, will not only better secure Canada’s borders but will provide a measure of personal safety and security to those who guard our borders. These initiatives will provide greater flexibility to border officers when conducting searches, investigations, gathering intelligence and arresting and removing individuals” stated Komarnicki.

“I would like to see these initiatives implemented sooner than later”, concluded Komarnicki.