December 11, 2017 – The union representing Canada’s border officers is promising “disturbances” and demonstrations at international crossings after bitter contract negotiations have dragged on more than three years. Jean-Pierre Fortin, national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, said officers will likely also stop collecting taxes as a tactic to pressure the government if the dispute isn’t settled by early 2018. He said officers with the Canada Border Services Agency have been without a contract since June 20, 2014. Government representatives with the CBSA couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday. He said officers could have a strike vote by March or April. Border enforcement is considered an essential service so most officers can’t actually go on strike. But Fortin said they could stop doing some duties. “One of the duties we will no longer be doing will be collecting taxes,” he said. “That duty is not part of ensuring national security.”