The Alberta-Montana border is becoming far more secure, thanks to a $29-million investment.
Last December, the Alberta government had announced a multi-million investment to create an Interdiction Patrol Team (IPT) within the Alberta Sheriff's department, because they recognize there is a need for swift action to curb drug trafficking and illegal border crossings to improve border security.
"Currently, we have 20 members that have been assigned to the IPT patrol, between entry points along Alberta's side of the border," explained Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, in a recent media conference.
"The Alberta Sheriffs Interdiction Patrol Team puts more boots on the ground to identify where and when these activities are taking place, boosting security along our southern border and disrupting dangerous cross-border human, drugs and weapons trafficking in both directions," Ellis said in an accompanying media release. "Let this be a message to all potential traffickers, especially those who traffic deadly fentanyl, you will get caught and you will go to jail."
While they already have 20 IPT members in action, in total there will be 51 members deployed to the border, and the remaining 31 will be deployed in the upcoming months.
Minister Ellis adds that these IPT members have already made an impact on crime that is travelling in both directions across the border and are working closely with the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency to help identify and apprehend those who are suspected of illegal activities, such as drug smuggling, human trafficking, and more.
"I can assure you that our portion of the border, in Canada, is secure."
Ellis adds that Alberta is not, and will never be, a haven for criminal activity.
On top of adding the IPT to the border, Alberta's government is acquiring equipment that will help IPT members detect and apprehend those committing illegal activity, which includes drones, night-vision optics, as well as canines to help with patrols.
Not only has the provincial government funded the IPT, they have also identified other concerns with the border.
"We are committed to strengthening security along Alberta's southern border to put an end to the dangerous criminal activities that are destroying lives on both sides of the border," said Premier Smith in the media release. "In addition to launching our new Interdiction Patrol Team, we are building three new vehicle inspection stations and increasing highway monitoring for suspicious activity. Our plan will ensure that Alberta’s southern border is secure."
If Budget 2025 gets passed, the Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors will provide $15 million over two years to create these vehicle inspection stations, which will be used by Alberta Sheriffs as a dedicated facility to inspect incoming and outgoing commercial vehicles at the border.
Those stations will be on Highway 1 at Dunmore, Highway 3 at Burmis, as well as on Highway 4 at Coutts, and will be open year-round.
Another security measure the Alberta government is implementing is training highway maintenance workers to help identify and report suspicious activity while they are doing highway maintenance.
Volker Stevin currently has the contract to maintain roughly 600 kilometres of highways in Southern Alberta, and by training them to identify suspicious activity, it will increase security measures with no extra cost.
In addition to that, the Critical Infrastructure Defence Regulation was amended in January so a two-kilometre border zone on the north side of the American border was included under the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.
By doing so, peace officers will have the authority to arrest anyone caught trespassing in that zone, interfering with, or damaging essential infrastructure, and those who do not have a lawful right to be on the essential infrastructure.
To read more and to watch the full media conference, click here.