Toronto ? They didn’t carry guns before, but they will now.

Canada’s guards along its 4,000-mile border with the United States do not carry guns, but they’ve been demanding firearms for years. On Thursday the country announced that it would outfit border guards with guns for the first time – so the officers can better face the increasing threats from armed fugitives.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the government plans to arm and train its 4,500 border agents during the next 10 years to use firearms.

He said that starting in September 2007 some will be armed like their U.S. counterparts.