At a border crossing south of Vancouver, the PM announced the guards will be armed starting next year, but it could take 10 years to fully implement the plan.

The Customs Excise Union representing 4,400 border inspectors says some of its members with necessary firearms training could be armed within weeks, reports Canadian Press.

A union survey conducted earlier this year revealed 355 customs officers have prior firearms training with the military or the police.

A union spokesman said the union is "quite concerned" about the 10-year time frame, and wants the plan to be fully rolled out much sooner.

Harper reiterated a promise from the federal budget to hire 400 additional officers, who will double up on Canada-U.S. border crossings that only have a single officer on duty.

Over the last year, officers at several Canada-U.S. border crossings walked off the job on several occasions to protest the fact they aren't armed like the American counterparts.

In February, customs officers actually left their post when notified an armed U.S. fugitive headed their way.

-- with files from Canadian Press