What has been done

CBSA Code of Conduct Complaint

In December 2021 the Vancouver families submitted a joint complaint to the:

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,
• Minister of Public SafetyMarco Mendicino, 
• Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser, and
• President Canada Border Services Agency John Ossowski

Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) staff are required to obey a code of conduct, which is maintained by the agency and is available on its website. The principles and ethics of the CBSA guarantee that the decision-making and actions of CBSA officers are ethical and fair, and that the public’s confidence in the agency is protected in an objective and unbiased way.

Having a code of conduct in place ensures that all employees are held to the same standards and principles in the course of their daily work activities. The CBSA’s mandate, which includes the enforcement of immigration and refugee laws, requires officers to demonstrate respect for Canada’s democracy, respect for people, and respect for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is especially true in the agency’s enforcement functions related to immigration and refugee matters. 

This collective complaint was the result of the shared experiences of asylum seekers who have never met before arriving in Canada, but who have a common bond in Vancouver that has brought us all together: Jeffery Wichurak, the CBSA Minister Representative.

Mr. Wichurak has taken a number of steps against a number of refugee claimants, which have breached his obligations under the CBSA’s code of conduct including his commitment to respect, fair application of the law, use of accurate information, and breach of privacy and confidentiality, among other matters.

After years of mistreatment, the refugees decided it is in their best interests to voice their concerns, and called on the CBSA to treat their complaint with the utmost seriousness. The ramifications of the CBSA’s activities have resulted in fractured families, mental health crises, financial hardship, and a variety of other calamities.