Border watchdog plan greeted warily by advocates of stronger review

A federally commissioned blueprint for a new watchdog to review Canada’s border agency has some worried it lacks the necessary bite to ensure true accountability.

A report produced for Public Safety Canada says the government should establish an independent body to handle public complaints about the Canada Border Services Agency.

The report, released under the Access to Information Act, also recommends the watchdog be able to look into trends and any systemic problems at the border services agency.

The power to conduct systemic reviews would be positive, said Josh Paterson, executive director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, which was consulted for the report.

But the suggested complaint mechanism falls short in Paterson’s eyes because the border agency itself would first investigate any complaint.

Only if that investigation fails to resolve the issue would the watchdog look into the matter.

“If the federal government follows this recommendation, it would be adopting the wrong model,” Paterson said.

The suggested new watchdog, the Canada Law Enforcement Review Commission, would keep an eye on both the border agency and the RCMP, given the frequent overlap between the two enforcement organizations.

It would be led by a chair, have four or five commissioners, and authority to compel documents and witnesses.