Public Safety Canada
Ottawa, ON
Today, the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of Public Safety, highlighted measures to further strengthen security at the border, expanding on the $1.3 billion Border Plan the Government of Canada announced in December.
The new measures include:
- The appointment of a Fentanyl Czar, who will engage with U.S. counterparts, and enhance operational collaboration and efficiency in combatting fentanyl, in order to enhance law enforcement tools to combat organized crime in Canada.
- The listing of organized crime cartels having an impact in Canada as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigates criminal activities by those who threaten the safety and security of Canadians. Listing is an important tool that will support criminal investigations and strengthen the RCMP's ability to prevent and disrupt the activities of the cartels.
- Canada is launching the Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.
- The Prime Minister signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl that will be supported by Canada's investment of $200 million in new capacity to allow Public Safety Canada and the Communication Security Establishment to gather intelligence on transnational organized crime and share with our American partners and law enforcement across the continent.
- Ensuring 24/7 eyes on the border through round-the-clock surveillance and by mobilizing law enforcement and civilian forces with new and modernized equipment. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are working on protecting the border.
These measures contribute to and expand on Canada's Border Plan, which through its $1.3 billion investment, has and will continue to increased resources dedicated to border security - this includes procurement of Black Hawk helicopters, drones, mobile surveillance towers, as well as addition of personnel and new canine teams.
The Canada-U.S. border is the most secure in the world. The Government of Canada will continue to do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
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