New border security plan a 'great start', expert says

An early outline of how Canada plans to heighten border security in the coming years is being met with optimism.

On Tuesday, Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc provided more details on a five-pillared approach with a price tag of $1.3 billion.

The move aims to limit the crossing of illegal drugs, guns and people as the Federal Government tries to avert a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports threatened by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

Marta Leardi-Anderson, the Executive Director of the Cross-Border Institute, told CTV News the increased focus on “nefarious actors” is a "great start" to border enhancements.

“I think any time the government decides that we need to do more to stymie that movement is a good thing because we do see these things playing out in our communities, and it’s been going on for a long, long time,” Leardi-Anderson said.

As part of the fall economic statement released Monday, Ottawa will spend $1.3 billion on a “border-security package” over the next six years.

New measures proposed by the government include AI and imaging tools and new canine teams. Public safety officials are also looking to roll out more helicopters and drones, as well as 24/7 surveillance at ports of entry and greater intelligence collection capacity.

LeBlanc said they plan to recruit an additional 100 to 150 people to man the border between the RCMP and CBSA.

“I think it's several things happening at the same time there's no silver bullet answer when it comes to how do we manage cross-border issues effectively,” Leardi-Anderson explained.

The five pillars of the plan are: detecting and disrupting the fentanyl trade, introducing significant new tools for law enforcement, enhancing operational coordination, increasing information sharing and minimizing unnecessary border volumes.

Leardi-Anderson said the Canada-U.S. border – the longest non-militarized border in the world – already boasts “state of the art” tools.

Plans to bolster border security remain in the early stages without dollar figures attached to each initiative.

In future plans, Leardi-Anderson hopes to see a program that encourages a smoother border process.

“So, you know, maybe there is a program that could provide a facilitated rolling lane, as it were, or Green Lane, versus having to stop folks and inspecting,” Leardi-Anderson said.

“That would be coupled with technology, facial recognition and all kinds of things.”

Enhanced border measures come as Trump threatens major tariffs if Canada doesn’t address the flow of people and drugs illegally crossing into America through the shared border.

However, in order to be effective, Leardi-Anderson said any approach must be through partnership.

“Whatever we do on the Canadian side of our border with the United States should be coordinated with the U.S side. You know, a border has an exit and an entry, right,” she said.

“That coordination piece is critical because the last thing you want is more thickening of the border, more delays. You want to see legitimate traffic of people and goods move efficiently through the border system.”

Windsor Port Authority Harbour Master Peter Berry said the funds announced are a long time coming, noting it's something that he and Windsor police, the OPP, RCMP, and CBSA have been saying for years to help to strengthen the border.

"The marine border that we have here, much like Kingston and those areas as well, are areas we just don't have the resources, enough vessels, year-round vessels to deal with that," said Berry. "I look forward to the money being released, the CBSA getting the funds that they need to do their important job that they do. The RCMP getting additional resources. Again, long overdue."

"I'm glad the government is taking this very seriously," Berry explained. "The expansion of drones is important because we're seeing that in our region as well. We need the technology for identification and interdiction."

Berry described 24/7 surveillance between all ports of entry as an 'ultimate dream' that is not something new.

"What's new is the fact that now we're actually doing something, that we are doing what we should have been doing all along in hardening the border,” he said.

"It's an ultimate dream. Putting together watch stander stations, command centers, using video radar, ground sensors, these are things in some areas in the United States that already exist even on the northern border. It's now that we want to look at technology and the activities that we have not in opposite directions of the United States, but complementary if not parallel, and that's important as we go through this technology planning and resourcing is what can we do in partnership with CBP, US Coast Guard, sheriffs departments and state police services. It's very important we have that dialog in relationship to have an effective use of these funds.,” said Berry.

Berry noted he's interested in learning more about funds for smaller port authorities like in Windsor as more details emerge about drone technology, border helicopter use in Windsor and the over all federal border security plan, "It's something that we've been dealing with this border for centuries and now we have a crisis. And just throwing money at it is not the answer. What's the plan? And I think working with the local agencies, we're starting to develop plans together."