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.”