Border plan features round-the-clock aerial surveillance, drug detection support

By Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press on December 17, 2024.

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) march towards the front lawn of Parliament Hill during the 47th Annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Service in downtown Ottawa, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

OTTAWA – The RCMP will create a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Canada’s border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers.

The move is part of the federal government’s $1.3-billion upgrade to border security and monitoring to appease concerns of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs.

Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. as soon as he is inaugurated next month unless both countries move to improve border security.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he has discussed parts of the plan with American officials and that he is optimistic about its reception.

Canada will also propose to the United States to create a North American “joint strike force” to target organized crime groups that work across borders.

The government also intends to provide new technology, tools and resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to seek out fentanyl using chemical detection, artificial intelligence and canine teams.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024.