Mohawks’ right to freely cross Canada-U.S. border trumped by national security: judge

by Douglas Quan, National Post, October 28, 2015

Federal border officers’ duty to safeguard Canada trumps the right of Mohawks to freely travel their Akwesasne territory that straddles Ontario, Quebec and New York state, a judge has ruled.

Two Akwesasne women had tried to assert an “aboriginal right to mobility to travel freely” within the territory for family or community purposes, and claimed that having to check in at the Cornwall, Ont., port of entry violated their Charter rights.

But in a new ruling, Judge Peter Griffiths of the Ontario Court of Justice said the inconvenience of checking in at the border was minimal and necessary to ensure national security.

Akwesasne man, 67, says he was brutalized by border guards over whiff of phantom tobacco

Antoine Delormier, 67, in his hospital bed in Cornwall Thursday. Photo courtesy of family via APTN.

by Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, September 24, 2015
A 67 year-old Akwesasne man who recently survived a heart-attack says he was brutalized by Canadian border agents Tuesday who forced him into secondary inspection because one of them caught a whiff of tobacco in his truck.

Antoine Delormier was on his way to the hospital when he was stopped at the border and manhandled by border guards after he refused to leave his truck.

Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict said in a statement the incident is being “reviewed and investigated” by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Secret deal between Canada’s spies and border guards raises concerns

A memorandum of understanding between the two agencies allowed info sharing, joint operations without political oversight.

By Alex Boutilier, The Star (Toronto), July 2, 2015

OTTAWA—A secret deal between Canada’s spies and border guards proposed more information sharing and joint operations without the need for political sign-off, the Star has learned.

A 2014 deal between the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canada Border Services Agency proposed the two agencies be allowed to share information and resources without the prior approval of their political masters.

“The Framework (Memorandum of Understanding) will also authorize (CSIS) to enter into more specific arrangements with CBSA, as required, without the necessity to seek your approval each time,” wrote CSIS director Michel Coulombe in a memo explaining the deal to Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney.

Anti-terror bill would widen powers for Canadian border guards

by Steven Chase, The Globe and Mail, Feb 23 2015

Canadian customs officers will have another reason to comb through travellers’ computers because Ottawa’s new anti-terror bill will empower them to confiscate anything falling under the broadly defined category of “terrorist propaganda” at border checkpoints.

A little-noticed amendment in C-51, the Conservative government’s Anti-Terrorism Act, adds the broad category of “writings, signs, visible representations or audio recordings that constitute terrorist propaganda” to the list of things Canada Border Services Agency officials can seize without a warrant from those entering Canada.

Akwesasne Mohawk takeover of border post ends with arrest

Stacey Boots arrested by Akwesasne Mohawk Police, March 22, 2014.

By Todd Hambleton, Cornwall Standard Freeholder, March 22, 2014

CORNWALL ISLAND – Akwesasne Mohawk Police defused a potential showdown just before noon on Saturday, arresting activist Stacey Boots.

Boots, of Akwesasne, had announced to media outlets his plan to march with other activists on the former Canada Border Services Agency customs house, but it never happened.