The Emerson, Manitoba Canadian port of entry. (@CANBORDER / TWITTER)
WINNIPEG — Manitoba conservation officers are now patrolling the province’s southern border alongside their federal law enforcement colleagues.
Premier Wab Kinew announced Monday the officers will join the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency to bolster security along the border near North Dakota.
“Increased eyes and ears will help crack down on drug trafficking, stop unsafe crossings and potentially save lives,” Kinew said.
Conservation officers stationed out of Virden, Boissevain, Manitou, Winnipeg, Steinbach and Sprague are conducting border patrols as part of their work. Patrols are being conducted between ports of entry, focusing on secondary roads and backcountry areas. The province is deploying equipment such as snowmobiles, utility terrain vehicles and helicopters to support the conservation service in its work to patrol the border.
“This is a humanitarian effort as well as an important step to keep people safe,” said Kinew. “If there’s a child or a family in danger near the border, we’re going to make sure there’s help there. But if someone is smuggling drugs or guns, we’re going to stop them.”
RCMP began flying Black Hawk helicopters along the border in southern Manitoba earlier this month.
Kinew says the Manitoba government has also invested $460,000 in overtime work for RCMP in border areas.
Many provinces have promised to boost border surveillance after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods unless border security was improved.
Watch Monday’s news conference:
— With files from The Canadian Press
