Public Safety Minister Toews Congratulates first graduating class of the Afghan National Customs Academy

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) experts play key role in success of Academy

OTTAWA, March 15, 2010 — The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, made the following statement today regarding the first graduating class of the Afghan National Customs Academy.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to the graduating class of the Afghan National Customs Academy,” said Minister Toews. “I would also like to acknowledge the positive work of the Canada Border Services Agency in passing on its knowledge and expertise to Afghanistan Customs Department officials to equip Afghans with an increased capacity to manage their border.

The Government of Canada is committed to providing the support necessary to ensure Afghans have the capacity, training, and capability to assume responsibility for their own security.

The CBSA is leading capacity-building projects and has deployed experts to provide training on border procedures at the Afghan National Customs Academy, which opened on January 19th, 2010. The Canada Border Services Agency, which manages Canada’s air, land and sea border crossings, has developed training materials for the Academy’s curriculum and has also provided a deputy dean and a senior trainer who work with recruits and officials.

The graduating class consists of 48 customs officers from Kabul and numerous provincial officers throughout Afghanistan.

Information:

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657