Border guard hung out with mob buddies, public service watchdog finds

OTTAWA – An investigation has revealed that a Canadian border guard was hanging out with organized crime figures in northern Ontario and providing them with protection.

Canada’s public service watchdog says the border officer’s conduct broke ethics rules and left the officer unable to do his job properly.

The report says the officer, who can’t be named because of privacy laws, is no longer working with the Canada Border Services Agency.

It’s the public-sector integrity commissioner’s fourth report to Parliament in the last year.

Commissioner Mario Dion says while the off-duty conduct of public servants is usually private, they must also make sure their actions don’t hurt their organization’s reputation.