Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says his department is considering giving additional powers to the Canada Border Services Agency to patrol the U.S. Border.
He also says the RCMP and CBSA are working on a list of new equipment that could help supplement their existing enforcement at the border.
LeBlancB次元官网网址檚 comments come as Canada tries to quickly beef up border security following a threat by president-elect Donald Trump to impose punishing tariffs on Canada and Mexico over border security concerns.
LeBlanc is likely to get more questions on the issue today when he appears at the House of Commons public safety committee to discuss departmental spending.
He and Trudeau were in Florida Friday dining with Trump at Mar-a-Lago but LeBlanc says the meeting was just the beginning of a conversation where no specific promises were made.
That dinner came just five days after Trump threatened Canada with 25 per cent tariffs if it didnB次元官网网址檛 do more, in his view, to secure the border from illegal migrant crossings and fentanyl entering the U.S.
Speaking to reporters Monday, LeBlanc said his department is mulling over expanding the CBSAB次元官网网址檚 mandate to include border patrol between ports of entry. Right now, that responsibility falls on the RCMP.
B次元官网网址淚 discussed that with the commissioner of the RCMP. If we were to undertake a big machinery-in-government change that may require legislation in the (House of Commons), IB次元官网网址檓 not sure it would speak to the urgency of the matter,B次元官网网址� LeBlanc said.
B次元官网网址淏ut weB次元官网网址檙e always looking at good ideas and weB次元官网网址檙e not dismissing this one, but itB次元官网网址檚 not a priority for us in terms of arriving at the conclusion we want.B次元官网网址�
Last week LeBlanc said Canada is considering supplying the RCMP and CBSA with more resources including drones, helicopters and personnel in case of a B次元官网网址渟urgeB次元官网网址� at the border.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not simply an exercise to appease Mr. Trump. ItB次元官网网址檚 an exercise in continuing the important work thatB次元官网网址檚 already been, and will continue to be done,B次元官网网址� LeBlanc told reporters Monday, in French.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 accept the premise or the idea that the border is not secure. But we recognize pressures, whether it is fentanyl, whether it is irregular migration around the world, and we understand the urgency of reassuring our American friends that the resources are in place.B次元官网网址�
He would not say what exactly the government is looking to buy at this point but said the RCMP and CBSA are working to put together a list.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be working with the finance minister and other colleagues very quickly to ensure that theyB次元官网网址檙e in a position to procure that equipment,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 spoke to the commissioner of the RCMP and the president of CBSA about this, this morning.B次元官网网址�
The supplementary estimates on the official agenda for the committee include a new $8 million ask by the CBSA to combat vehicle theft in Canada, and $23 million for a project rebuilding land border crossings.
