The union representing Canada's border guards says Ottawa's announcement that they will soon be armed isn't enough to keep its members on the job in dangerous situations.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper confirmed Thursday that his government would follow through with a promise to give firearms to 150 border guards by March 2008.

The first weapons will make it into the hands of officers by September 2007, but Harper says it could be 10 years before all of the guards are armed.

"This is about the length of time it took in the United States," said Harper. "We have to train individuals. It does take time to make sure everybody is trained and armed properly."

Until that happens, says Customs and Excise Union vice-president George Scott, border guards will continue to refuse work when they feel threatened.

Scott points to a January incident at the Peace Arch border crossing near Vancouver that caused guards to walk off the job.

Two murder suspects from California managed to make it to within metres of Canadian soil before they were stopped by American police, who wounded one of the men in a shootout.

"If that same thing happened … with those two armed individuals who had to be taken down using force, our members would be leaving the job," said Scott.

"It wasn't just a political action. There were serious concerns."

The union says it would eventually like to see fully equipped emergency response teams at the border, ready to deal with whatever comes their way.