"THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY MUST BE THE FIRST PRIORITY OF BORDER PROTECTION SERVICES" ~ SafetyNet Conference 1994 In August 1991 Jonathan Yeo, a crazed sexual predator, with an eleven year history of violence against women, armed with a firearm, attempting to breach bail for sexual assault, tried to cross the border in to the U.S. at the Whirlpool Bridge at Niagara Falls. Neither Customs Canada nor Immigration Canada had the power to detain him or seize his weapon. Ninety minutes later Nina de Villiers disappeared while jogging. Her body was found ten days later in a marsh near Napanee, Ontario. She had been executed. Karen Marquis was assaulted and executed in her home in New Brunswick four days later. Their killer, Jonathan Yeo, shot himself in a police chase in Hamilton, Ontario. Jury recommendation #107 from the Yeo Inquest of April 13, 1992 states, "There must be armed personnel at all border crossings for the protection of the public and safety of our country. We recommend a permanent police service or customs officers who are proficient in arms. In 1994 CAVEAT hosted a multi-disciplinary, national conference, SafetyNet, in which recommendations were made to all levels of government. The Border Security Committee of SafetyNet made sixteen recommendations, one of which says, "Border protection officers be granted full peace officer status and that they be fully trained and fully armed where possible." Based on these recommendations and in consultation on customs officers' powers review, CAVEAT and CEUDA (Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise) proposed the creation of a new government organization responsible for border control. Roger Tassé was formerly Deputy Minister for the federal Department of Justice; he was hired during 1994 by Revenue Canada to study and report on the Powers of Customs Inspectors. His comments on the CAVEAT/CEUDA proposal follow:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Conclusion:
March 13, 1997 CAVEAT is pleased to participate in the announcement made by The Honourable Jane Stewart, Revenue Canada Minister on new legislation designed to increase the powers of Customs Inspectors. Six years ago, sexual predator, Jonathan Yeo, was not able to be detained at the U.S. border. Three people died. Today he could be held. One more link in the protection of Canadian society has been forged. |