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In the wake of tariff threats from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, Premier Scott Moe on Tuesday unveiled a new Saskatchewan Border Security Plan.
“It’s these initiatives that will ensure that we have a secure border, and will ensure that it doesn’t elevate to a point that we’re seeing illegal drugs coming across the 49th parallel that, ultimately, will end up in a Saskatchewan community,” said Moe.
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The plan includes refocusing 16 officers from conservation, highway patrol and canine teams who are already in the vicinity to conduct patrols and public safety campaigns closer to the U.S. border.
“Our officers with the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol often play a role in identifying illegal activity during traffic stops that they make, commercial vehicle inspections that they are part of, supported often by our conservation officers as well,” explained Moe.
The officers wouldn’t take over responsibility for securing the border, which remains federal jurisdiction. Instead, the officers would patrol within the province in areas north of the border, and complement federal enforcement.
Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod says the officers will be re-focused and re-prioritized to keep an eye on border issues. Jan. 14, 2025 (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)
“We’re exercising the resources that we have in the jurisdiction that we’re responsible for to make sure that there’s no gaps between the areas that we patrol and the areas of responsibility of the federal government,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said.
Moe said the teams would also work with RCMP and local municipal forces.
“Working together so that we can be the eyes and ears on the ground should anything occur along the Saskatchewan border,” said the premier.
Border patrols will use planes, drones and snowmobiles
The teams would have a raft of equipment at their disposal – up to 16 patrol cars, drones, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and three planes.
In the plan, the province would also have the ability to offer up to 95 officers to support federal efforts if there was significant illegal activity at the border. Moe said that could include repeated and frequent drug and human trafficking or an uncontrolled border crossing like Roxham Road in Quebec.
Other initiatives the provincial government will consider include creating a border integrity and intervention team under the Saskatchewan Marshals Service, which is expected to be operational this summer. That plan could also include expanding the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Teams and mandate, and prioritizing it and other teams’ enforcement efforts.
When Trump first brought up his plan to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, he said it was because of drugs and illegal immigration flowing south through the U.S. border.
Though Moe opposed the tariff plan, saying it would be bad for Saskatchewan, he did tout improving border security, saying that when your largest trading partner has concerns, they should be addressed.
Talks with federal government on Wednesday
The federal government had previously committed $1.3 billion to border security and, on Wednesday, Moe and the other premiers will have a meeting with the federal government to talk about its plan for the border. Whatever that ends up being, Moe said Saskatchewan’s plan will work with and complement it.
“We do look forward to working with the federal government on how those dollars can be invested to ensure that we do have a secure border on behalf of Canadians, … the residents of Saskatchewan but … more broadly as a continental-North American citizen,” said Moe.
Most recently, Trump has shifted his concerns to focus on a trade deficit between Canada and the U.S.
Moe hopes conversations can be had to stop any tariffs being imposed for any reason, saying they’re bad for industry and creating wealth, and the story that needs to be told is how integrated Canada and the U.S. economies are.
Moe plans to head to Washington with the premiers’ delegation in February, and said his government is planning one or two other trips there as well in the near future to talk up trade and what Saskatchewan has to offer.
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