Topic: Commissionaires

[garb811]

No it does not. I have been to many US bases in the last decade and have never waited long to get in, despite armed guards, 100% ID checks and random vehicle searches.

The trouble with places like Petawawa every base in Canada is the design of the gates themselves. Properly built, you could have 100% checks and not delay anyone.

Fixed that for ya.

[ObedientiaZelum]

No it does not. I have been to many US bases in the last decade and have never waited long to get in, despite armed guards, 100% ID checks and random vehicle searches.

The trouble with places like Petawawa is the design of the gates themselves. Properly built, you could have 100% checks and not delay anyone.

Exactly my friend.  It works in the states, they've been doing it what the last 10 years?  How much money did they throw at that problem.

Implementing that in Canada would be a mess. Manpower, budget, things rebuilt (new range control building...),  politics. The CF takes a very long time for anything to be done. We would need to send out requests to make bids, there would be arguments over which company got picked and favoritism.  People would protest that we are becoming "too american" with the silly notion of guarding our military bases.
Sadly it'll take a terrorist attack with some loss of life before anyone takes a serious look at security.

[CDN Aviator]

How much money did they throw at that problem.

Very little i expect.

[Kokanee]

There seems to be a systemic problem in the Army with trusting soldiers with live ammo when tasked with base defence/checkpoints in garrison..... ie:

I asked about throwing my hat in the ring for BASF training, but when I read their SOP's and talked to some of the fellows on it during an event they were activated for, I decided against it. The security situation was deemed to be elevated enough to deploy the BASF with weapons and magazines, but not ammo. At that point I realised it was a giant waste of time and didn't bother following up on it.

After reading this thread though it seems the Navy has no qualms about giving pers (some with questionable quals?) live ammo to defend ports etc.  Not a knock on the Navy, just pointing out the difference.

[EpicBeardedMan]

I agree. In the US, a lot of the navy and coast guard bases have uniformed armed security forces that handle gate duties.
Then again, this is Canada.

On the west coast it flip flops back and forth with people complaining about how lax the commissionaires are to how strict they are and make people late for appointments, etc. Either way it seems like there's no winning solution.

[jasonf6]

The security situation was deemed to be elevated enough to deploy the BASF with weapons and magazines, but not ammo. At that point I realised it was a giant waste of time and didn't bother following up on it.

I never understood this either.  They expect ALL trades to be able to dig a trench, fire a weapon accurately and all that jazz covered by the Universality of Service yet they don't give out live ammo for BASF.  I understand the safety thing but if you're expected to deploy and carry weapons you should be relied on to use them in a safe manner.  If you can't carry a weapon and not shoot yourself in the foot then you shouldn't be in the military at all.  It may sound harsh but it's the MILITARY, not boy/girl scouts.  It's an armed force.

[ObedientiaZelum]

Magazines without ammo for base security 

[Nemo888]

Exactly my friend.  It works in the states, they've been doing it what the last 10 years?  How much money did they throw at that problem.

Aren't they broke now after borrowing a few trillion to pay a bloated military budget for the last ten years?  Better gate guards for the place filled with guns and tough as nails soldiers who would love to shoot a tango may not be money well spent in most civvies minds.  I'd much rather have a quick access plan to loaded ready to go firearms if security became a problem. I can shoot them myself for what I'm being paid now 

[ObedientiaZelum]

Most civilians who worked in high rise buildings probably didn't care much about homeland security and metal detectors at airports back in August 2001 either 

[Tank Troll]

We could could go back to the Germany solution and have Armed Dependants guarding the gates.

[mariomike]

Apparently anyone with a heartbeat is hired and they are suppose to be our first line of defence at our bases.

For comparison,

Commissionaires:
http://www.commissionaires.ca/national/en/careers-available-positions/en-80339-security-patrol/
( Pay rates and job calls vary. )

A corporate security job call ( for an entry level position ):
http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/hr/jobs.nsf/b95d1630385b57cd8525668200523188/c0befdf408af29b8852573e20058b683?OpenDocument
( The pay rate is from 23 March, 2009. Although non-union, as city employees I would guess they have received a similar pay raise since then. )

Not to say one service provides better security than the other. But, there looks to be a significant difference in responsibilities, qualifications and pay between the two.

[garb811]

You're comparing apples and oranges.  Commissionaires =/= municipal/provincial or federal civil service security positions.

A better comparison is with a private security company in the same geographic locations:

Job Number: 6134295

Title: Security guard (NOC: 6651)

Terms of Employment: Permanent, Part Time leading Full Time, Day

Salary: $12.00 to $14.50 Hourly for 40 hours per week

Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible

Location: South Surrey, British Columbia (1 vacancy)
Skill Requirements:

Education: Not applicable, Not required

Credentials (certificates, licences, memberships, courses, etc.): Security Guard basic (pre-assignment ) training program certificate, Security Guard Licence, Provincial/territorial security officer certificate

Experience: Will train

Languages: Speak English, Read English, Write English

Work Setting: Private security agency, Factory or plant

Type of Assignments: Foot patrol, Patrol post, Roving patrol

Specific Skills: Enforce regulations of establishments, Maintain order, Use telecommunications (i.e. two-way radio, cell phone, pager), Follow radio and emergency telephone procedures, Monitor security television, Ensure safety and emergency procedures are followed, Control vehicular and pedestrian traffic, Respond to alarms, bomb threats and other emergencies, Detect or prevent thefts and vandalism, Write reports

Security and Safety: Bondable, Basic security clearance, Criminal record check, Credit check

Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: Attention to detail, Combination of sitting, standing, walking, Walking

Work Site Environment: Noisy

Transportation/Travel Information: Own transportation

Essential Skills: Reading text, Document use, Numeracy, Writing, Oral communication, Working with others, Problem solving, Decision making, Critical thinking, Job task planning and organizing, Significant use of memory, Finding information, Computer use, Continuous learning

Employer: Investigation Services Ltd.
How to Apply:

Please apply for this job only in the manner specified by the employer. Failure to do so may result in your application not being properly considered for the position.

Contact Name: Deo Raj
By E-mail: deo.raj@investigation-services.ca

Advertised until: 2011/11/29

This job advertisement has been provided by an external employer. Service Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, authenticity or reliability of the content.