A series of internal reports have shed light on allegations of lewd comments and inappropriate behavior at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The reports suggest that a culture of tolerating inappropriate comments and discouraging the filing of official complaints may exist within the agency.
The reports detail internal investigations that uncovered instances of sexual harassment and raise concerns about the overall workplace environment at the CBSA. The CBSA's first annual "Misconduct and Wrongdoing" report, released in December 2025, revealed that 259 CBSA employees were involved in founded cases of misconduct and wrongdoing between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. The agency closed 364 investigations during that period, with 71% resulting in at least one founded allegation.
The CBSA's annual report lists examples of misconduct, including inappropriate sexual comments, disrespectful behavior, threats of physical violence, and inappropriate touching. The consequences for founded misconduct cases in 2024-2025 included four terminations, numerous suspensions, written reprimands, and counseling. CBSA President Erin O'Gorman stated that the report is meant to "increase transparency and confidence" in the reporting of misconduct within the agency. She added that the agency needs to work harder to prevent these behaviors from happening in the first place.
The CBSA has approximately 17,000 employees, including 8,500 front-line employees at 1,200 ports of entry across Canada and 36 countries. The agency emphasizes that misconduct occurs among a small proportion of its employees. The CBSA encourages employees to report suspected misconduct to their manager or the Professional Integrity Division.
