CBSA’s removal of its female officers for religious travellers is unacceptable

August 19, 2014

A recent decision by the Canada Border Services Agency to remove female officers from their posts so that religious travellers can avoid being screened by female border officers is unacceptable, said the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

“As a woman, a federal public servant and a Canadian I find this not only objectionable but offensive,” said Robyn Benson, National President of the PSAC. “CBSA has an obligation to treat all of its employees equally”.

PSAC is consulting legal counsel to ensure that CBSA management is prevented from ever taking these measures again.  Since this incident became public, our members have brought forward other cases of religious travellers being given special consideration.

PSAC/CIU members work on the front lines to protect Canadians. Decisions such as this undermine their ability to do their job and demonstrate yet again that CBSA is acting in an irresponsible and disrespectful manner towards its employees.

See CBC investigative piece including interview with Mark Weber, CIU Toronto Branch President.