The Canada Border Services Agency acted "deceitfully" when it fired a woman without a proper investigation — while shielding others from liability — after the border agency failed to collect roughly $26 million in duties, says the federal public service labour board.

"In all, the employer's egregious conduct in this matter consisted of bad faith," the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board said in a recent decision.

"The employer deceitfully disguised its failure to conduct a proper investigation, to give it the appearance of due process."

The case was brought forward by Anne Kline. She was fired by the CBSA in 2018 after the agency accused her of negligence resulting in the loss of about $26 million in import duties it could have imposed against a company.