The Government of Saskatchewan has announced a new plan to enhance border security which will include redeploying officers to both the province’s interprovincial and international boundaries.
Premier Scott Moe made the announcement at an event at the Wascana Maintenance Depot in Regina on Tuesday.
The new plan will enable the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety to mobilize Provincial Protective Services (PPS) officers to work in partnership with other provincial services and federal agencies.
A total of 16 officers from conservation, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol and canine-handler teams will be redeployed to regularly conduct patrols and public safety campaigns near the border, according to the announcement.
Resources will include one mobile command unit and up to 16 patrol vehicles equipped with license plate readers, specialty equipment such as drones, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles and three planes for conducting surveillance activities.
The plan also allows for a surge capacity of 95 total officers to be deployed to address emerging incidents near the border as they arise.
According to the province, it will explore other options such as creating a “Border Integrity and Intervention Team” within the Saskatchewan Marshals Service, expanding the mandate and complement of the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Teams (STRTs) and prioritizing the enforcement efforts of the STRTS and other teams were required.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the RCMP Federal Enforcement Section will continue to have direct enforcement responsibility for securing Canada’s borders.
The officers outlined in the plan will only patrol within interprovincial borders and areas north of the Saskatchewan – U.S. border to complement federal enforcement efforts.
The issue of border security has been highlighted since President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods – citing border security issues.
Saskatchewan is the latest province to announce enhanced border security measures, following Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.
-More details to come…
