Windsor border staffing a ‘crisis’ as tariff threat looms, union says

Alissa Howe, CIU Local 18 president, left, and Alex Hoffman, CIU Local 18 1st VP, speak at a joint news conference with NDP MPs on Jan. 19, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

On the eve of president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, Windsor border officials highlighted the dire need to hire more staff at the nation’s busiest land border crossings.

In a joint press conference alongside NDP MPs, representatives from Customs Immigration Union (CIU) Local 18 detailed current working conditions for those on the front line.

Alissa Howe, the president of CIU Local 18, said staffing levels have reached a “crisis point” based on the demands of the job.

“We need more investment in our people, and not the things that break down, age out and are merely tools that have no manpower to run them,” Howe said inside the CAW Student Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Hiring of border staff has ramped up in recent years to prepare for the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

In preparation, Howe said their membership rose from 530 to 700 over the last year and a half. Despite the increase, there is still a need for members to regularly work overtime.

Alex Hoffman, the local 18 1st vice-president, noted the current approach is “not sustainable” in the long term.

“We have over 200 extra people today right now, and overtime is still available. We still have traffic backups. We are still busy,” Hoffman said. “When the new bridge opens in eight to nine months, our prediction is that we’ll be understaffed at three ports in Windsor.”

Border security has been top of mind as Trump’s threats for sweeping tariffs have only increased in recent weeks.

Trump vowed to implement the tariffs if Canada did not address illegal border crossings and the flow of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl.

In response, at a national and provincial level, governments have announced plans to strengthen security with new drones, helicopters, dogs and boats.

Earlier this month, the Ontario Government publicly announced “Operation Deterrence,” focused on the use of Ontario Provincial Police members to patrol in between official border crossings.

Howe noted it’s been “frustrating” for her members to see provincial resources being deployed along the border.

“Many are wondering why Canada is not relying more on border officers as part of the plan to boost border security. It is literally our mandate to be Canada’s first line of defence,” she said.

In future, Howe wants to see better dialogue by the federal government to ensure their perspective and expertise are considered.

Hosted by Windsor West MP Brian Masse, the news conference included New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian, MP for Edmonton Strathcona Heather McPherson, and MP for London-Fanshawe Lindsay Mathyssen.

The members emphasized the union’s concerns and the economic threat of tariffs.

Masse noted at a time when Trump has made efforts to “scare investment” from Canada, more investment is needed to ensure the sustainability of the industry.

He pointed to the end of incentives for prospective electric vehicle owners.

“So at a time when we might have a threat on those vehicles in the United States and losing their incentives over there, we’re abandoning that now it’s going to have a crushing effect on consumers,” Masse said.

Masse said governments need to stop “doing things that harm ourselves,” and avoid piling on to existing challenges.