Media Advisory: News Conference CEUDA Releases Northgate Report.

MONTREAL -- The Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise (CEUDA) retained The Northgate Group in July 2005 to conduct an extensive study of whether the risks inherent in the duties of Border Services Officers, Regional Intelligence Officers and Customs Investigators would justify the issuance of side-arms.

The Northgate Group Study will be made public tomorrow. From this Study, 31 recommendations are presented in an effort to enhance officer safety and improve border security for Canadians.

The Study also uncovered disturbing evidence of CBSA conduct aimed at misleading the public on the need for the issuance of sidearms as well as practices that potentially create significant public safety and security shortfalls.

Aside from calling for implementation of the recommendations, CEUDA is also taking the extraordinary step of asking the Auditor General of Canada to investigate the institutional integrity and operational competence of CBSA both of which potentially compromise the safety and security of not only Customs Officers but also of Canadian society.

DATE
                    Tuesday, January 10, 2006

                              TIME
                            10:00 AM

                            LOCATION
                          Richelieu Room
                   Fairmont - The Queen Elizabeth
            900 Rene-Levesque Blvd. West, Montreal, Quebec

                         IN ATTENDANCE
             Ron Moran, National President, CEUDA
      Jean-Pierre Fortin, 1st National Vice-President, CEUDA
      Michel Juneau-Katsuya, President & CEO, Northgate Group

Mr. Moran will make an opening statement. Mr. Juneau-Katsuya will provide a general overview of the study and its recommendations. This will be followed with a question period. Printed copies of the report will be available as will electronic versions in PDF on CD-ROM.