Alberta RCMP say they’ve started patrolling the U.S. border with Black Hawk helicopters to track illegal activities, such as drug traffickers and illegal immigration.
The move comes as U.S. tariffs are expected to be put in place on Feb. 1.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will put 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports because the two countries haven’t taken enough action to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the United States through their borders.
Ottawa has pledged $1.3 billion to increase border security with a plan that includes deploying RCMP helicopters, new drones, and additional surveillance towers.
Alberta also announced it will spend $29 million on border security efforts, including a sheriff-led patrol unit with 51 uniformed officers, four drug patrol dogs, 10 support staff, four narcotics analyzers to test for drugs, and surveillance drones.
Helicopter patrols along the U.S.–Alberta border started on Jan. 28, RCMP said.
Related Stories
The Black Hawk’s range and speed “allows it to be deployed very quickly to any location along the Alberta border,” said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Lisa Moreland, regional commander of federal policing in the Northwest region.
The helicopters provide “an enhanced rapid-response capability within the province,” she said, in addition to vehicle patrols on the ground.
Residents who live along the border may hear and see the helicopters regularly,“ RCMP said. ”These are part of normal police operations and there is no cause for any public safety concern.”
RCMP said they can’t provide details on where the helicopters are based or where they will be deployed to protect operational integrity.
The price tag for the two additional helicopters was $5.3 million, police said.
Smith Calls for Border Czar
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith thanked the federal government for sending the helicopters to the border in comments at an unrelated news conference on Jan. 29.
Smith has also called for a Canadian border czar to be appointed to work with U.S. counterpart Tom Homan. She said ideally it would be a retired general “who understands military operations, who understands deployment, who understands the seriousness with which we have to take this issue.”
Securing the border is the best way for Canada to avoid tariffs, she said.
Smith said she doesn’t expect such a move to prevent tariffs, but it would show the United States that Canada is serious about its partnership.
“I think there will be other things that we will need to work on, and we will do so. But I am convinced, after speaking with dozens of elected U.S. representatives, administration officials, and the president himself, that this is the most important first step.”
She said she hoped it would be acted upon by Feb. 1.
Quebec Patrols
RCMP in Quebec also showed off Black Hawk helicopters on Jan. 30, saying they will help patrol the U.S. border in that province.
Sgt. Charles Poirier said the new helicopters will help police cover a vast and will be useful in faster responses if there is a spike in border crossings.
The Canadian Press and Reuters contributed to this article.
