EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province is still in the early stages of determining how it will monitor its border with Montana, but that there are possibilities and that current specialist sheriff teams can serve as a model.
EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province is still in the early stages of determining how it will monitor its border with Montana, but that there are possibilities and that current specialist sheriff teams can serve as a model. Smith made the promise following an urgent meeting this week to discuss risks from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers. On his first day in office in January, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico until the flow of drugs and illegal immigration is stopped Smith stated on Thursday that she is willing to provide provincial resources, but she is encouraging the federal government to develop a better border security plan. "It's not uncommon for the Alberta government to intervene through our different law enforcement channels to ensure that we're dealing with the illicit flows, whether they involve people or drugs crossing the border," she stated. In order to bolster police services throughout the province, the premier proposed that Alberta's special border patrol function similarly to an existing, specialist fugitive apprehension unit of sheriffs. According to Smith, the province is in charge of police the area close to the border and has an obligation to cooperate with Montana officials, Canadian border security, and their federal counterparts. "We need to work together." to possess. We frequently conduct cooperative operations," she stated Smith responded that federal power over the border is actually "narrow" when asked how the provincial effort will operate given that international borders are under federal jurisdiction. "We are in charge of a lot of the land mass immediately after you cross the border," she stated. Smith hasn't given her border patrol idea enough attention, according to NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, who also said that Smith is harming Canadian-US relations by acknowledging the legitimacy of Trump's demands on Thursday. Everyone benefits from having a strong, secure border, according to Nenshi, but "you have to fortify your side of the border if your problem is illegal stuff coming in." "I don't know if Premier Smith is now advocating for the Alberta Border Patrol and sheriffs to search everyone." He said, "I'm heading down to the Walmart in Billings, Montana."
The United Conservatives' stance that Americans have good reason to be concerned about narcotics coming into their country from Canada was reaffirmed by Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis. Ellis stated that he is contacting Montana's attorney general to discuss collaborating on border security measures. "At this moment, we are developing a strategy," he stated. Ellis stated earlier this week that the province had been discussing the idea of adding extra sheriffs to the U.S. border for over a year. In an attempt to stop possible drug trafficking from British Columbia, the minister added, the government has been thinking about sending more sheriffs to the provincial border along the Rocky Mountains. Details regarding the amount of money the province is willing to invest in the promised fresh border guards. The Canadian Press originally released this report on November 28, 2024.
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