The RCMP says it is considering deploying Mounted Troopers in training to help secure the Canada-U.S. border amid heightened political uncertainty over border control in the face of the threat of tariffs from the incoming Trump administration. .
RCMP Chief Mike Duhem said the agency is first considering bringing in uniformed officers from federal police stations to strengthen border security. He also said the idea of sending cadets from the Regina training base is being considered in the event of a resource shortage.
“If there is a surge that requires additional resources, that could be something,” Duhem told reporters Tuesday.
He noted that RCMP cadets were used to increase security at Parliament House after a gunman shot and killed Chief Corporal in 2014. Nathan Cirillo then stormed the center block of the Capitol.
Duhem told reporters after testifying before the House Public Safety Committee on Tuesday. He told MPs that contingency plans are being put together to address Canada’s concerns about the surge in asylum seekers heading north and to allay the incoming US administration’s border concerns.
Last week, President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada when he takes office next month, citing concerns about illegal immigration and fentanyl coming into the United States.
Since last week’s tariff scare, Canada has pledged to acquire more helicopters and drones for border security.
Duhem said the RCMP has asked the federal government to increase the number of uniformed officers at the border.
“But there are also more people who can manipulate the technology that we’re going to have,” he says.
He did not say whether he was requesting more police officers, but added that the public security minister would soon report more.
“The Minister has responded well to some of the challenges we face and they are being addressed,” he said.
“We look forward to the investment.”
CBSA union seeks expanded powers
The request to increase federal police resources comes amid staffing shortages in the RCMP’s federal police division, which is responsible for securing borders and investigating foreign interference, terrorism and other threats to national security, as well as sophisticated organized crime and cybercrime. , which was issued.
unit Regular members have continued to decline over the past 10 years. This is to fill vacancies in the Contract Policing Division, the RCMP’s field police service in the provinces and territories.
“I’ve been working here for almost 30 years, and I don’t think there’s a year that goes by where our priorities don’t change.” [to which] We need to reallocate resources,” Duhem said.
The head of the union representing Canada Border Services Agency employees has pressed the federal government to hand over some RCMP duties to border officials.
in Open letter to the Federal Minister of Public Security Mark Weber, president of the Customs and Immigration Union, said in a statement released Monday that Ottawa should give authorities the power to patrol the entire border, not just official points of entry.
“Given the broad mandate of the RCMP, it is a logical step to empower CBSA officers to operate and patrol between ports of entry in collaboration with RCMP officers,” Weber wrote.
“Doing so will send a strong signal that the Government of Canada understands what it takes to protect our borders and communities.”
Duhem told reporters he was open to discussing the change, but suggested it was a long-term outlook.
“I think we need to explore different ways of doing things,” he said.
