Alberta unveils U.S. border security plan with sheriffs, dogs and drones
Province also announced 2-kilometre red zone to make arrests near the border
Alberta introduced plans to create a new unit in an attempt to bolster security at its section of Canada's border with the U.S.
Premier Danielle Smith announced on Thursday that the province will invest $29 million to create the Interdiction Patrol Team, under the command of the Alberta Sheriffs.
The unit will be made up of 51 uniformed officers, 10 support staff including dispatchers and analysts, four drug patrol dogs, 10 surveillance drones operable in cold weather and high winds, and four narcotics analyzers.
The IPT will be set up to intercept illegal attempts to cross the border, or bring drugs or firearms across the 298-kilometre international boundary with the U.S.
Smith added that Alberta will create a border zone at least two kilometres deep, where sheriffs will be able to arrest people found to be attempting to cross the border illegally or trafficking illegal drugs or weapons, without needing a warrant.
The province said the border zone will be created by amending regulations under Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.
"Together with federal law enforcement, we'll ensure that our section of the American border is well-protected," Smith said. "We'll deny safe haven to criminals looking to operate in both countries, and if we succeed and maintain proper border security, I expect we'll have a very strong relationship with the United States as we always have."
The province's goal is to have the IPT operating by early 2025.
The announcement came under the threat of substantial tariffs on Canadian goods from the incoming U.S. administration.
President-elect Donald Trump has said that on his first day back in office, he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico unless both countries stop what he called an "invasion" of drugs, "in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens" into the U.S.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met virtually with Canada's premiers Wednesday for the second time to discuss relations with the U.S. as Canada prepares for Trump's return to the White House.
Smith said Trudeau and the other premiers were well aware before Thursday that Alberta would announce its border plan. She added that other provinces like Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba are looking at deploying officers to their sections of the border with the U.S., as well.
While the flow of migrants and illegal drugs over the northern border is a fraction of what crosses over from Mexico, Trump is still concerned about what's coming from Canada.
Ellis said on there was strong agreement about Alberta's plan to patrol the border with the RCMP's federal police and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) when the province met with these groups on Wednesday.
Ellis added part of the IPT's focus will include commercial vehicle inspection stations on main highways, and near border entry points. The unit will also provide coverage to major provincial highways and known interprovincial travel routes, Ellis said.
"While we work with our federal and international partners to address this issue, we will not sit idly by and wait for a solution to be handed to us," Ellis said.
Most motorists won't experience any differences in how they're stopped at border crossings into the U.S., Ellis added, saying he believes most will be understanding of Alberta's new security measures.
"I think most people understand the importance of border security. I think most people understand the concerns regarding illegal drugs, illegal guns and the concern regarding human trafficking," Ellis said.
"I would hope that we're going to work collaboratively with private property owners, but make no mistake, our friends in law enforcement will abide by the law."
From Alberta's perspective, Smith said, she doesn't support tariffs on either Canadian or U.S. goods, because the result makes life more expensive for everyday Canadians and Americans.
"Instead, we're taking the diplomatic approach," Smith said on Thursday. "We're meeting with our allies in the U.S., we're making the case for Alberta oil and gas to be part of the solution to energy affordability, to energy security, and to, generally speaking, North American defence security as well."
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Increased border security is an issue the province has been working to tackle since last year, Smith said. The premier's mandate letter to Ellis in July 2023 included a call for specialized, sheriff-led teams to tackle fentanyl and illegal-gun trafficking, including at the Canada-U.S. border.
Looking ahead, she added she has suggested a summit with Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, and with British Columbia and Saskatchewan premiers as well.
Province stepping in, undertaking a federal responsibility
Ultimately, Alberta's section of the Canada-U.S. border is a blip on the radar, said Lori Williams, Mount Royal University associate professor of policy studies.
She said it's good to see Smith is open to working with the federal government and other provinces on border security efforts, but Alberta's section of the border accounts for only 3.3 per cent of its total length.
"As far as making a difference in terms of securing the Canada-U.S. border, she might be able to make a tiny contribution, but it's not going to be that significant," Williams said.
Presenting a united front with the rest of the country will be critical given Trump's comments about the border thus far, Williams added.
But the initiative to bolster border security is something the federal government should have already been addressing a decade ago, said Mount Royal University criminologist Kelly Sundberg.
Sundberg, who is a former CBSA officer, called Alberta's new border strategy a comprehensive and sensible plan that can act as a model for other provinces, such as Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.
"It's reassuring to see that the provincial government is, to a certain degree, going to be able to address what should be a federal matter, and address it quickly. And their plan is solid," Sundberg said.
To build on this strategy, Sundberg added he'd like to see the CBSA evolve into a national border policing agency that's responsible for all migration and border security issues.
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With files from Joey Chini and Emmanuel Prince-Thauvette