Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it香蕉视频直播檚 early days on figuring out how the province will patrol its border with Montana but says there are options, and pointed to existing specialized sheriff units as a model.
Smith香蕉视频直播檚 pledge came after an emergency meeting this week to strategize with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers over threats from incoming U.S. president Donald Trump.
Trump has said he will slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican imports on his first day in office in January until the flow of illegal migrants and drugs is stemmed.
Smith is urging the federal government to come up with a better border security plan, but said Thursday she香蕉视频直播檚 prepared to pony up provincial resources.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 unusual to have the Alberta government take an interest, through our various law enforcement mechanisms, to make sure that we香蕉视频直播檙e addressing the illegal flows, whether it香蕉视频直播檚 people or drugs across the border,香蕉视频直播 she said.
The premier suggested Alberta香蕉视频直播檚 special border patrol could operate much like an existing, specialized fugitive apprehension team of sheriffs, who support police services across the province.
Smith said the province is responsible for policing land near the border, and it香蕉视频直播檚 incumbent on them to work with their federal counterparts, Canadian border security and Montana officials.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a joint effort that we need to have. We do joint operations all the time,香蕉视频直播 she said.
When asked how the provincial effort will work, given that international borders fall under federal jurisdiction, Smith said that federal jurisdiction over the border is actually 香蕉视频直播渘arrow.香蕉视频直播
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of land mass right after you cross the border that we香蕉视频直播檙e responsible for,香蕉视频直播 she said.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Thursday that Smith hasn香蕉视频直播檛 thought through her border patrol plan, and is undermining Canadian negotiations with the U.S. by conceding that Trump香蕉视频直播檚 demands are valid.
Nenshi said everyone benefits from a strong, secure border, but 香蕉视频直播渋f your problem is illegal stuff coming in, then you have to fortify your side of the border.香蕉视频直播
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not sure if Premier Smith is now suggesting that Alberta sheriffs, an Alberta border patrol will now search every single person going down to the Walmart in Billings, Montana,香蕉视频直播 he said.
Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis reiterated the United Conservatives香蕉视频直播 position that Americans are right to be concerned about drugs entering their country from Canada.
Ellis said he香蕉视频直播檚 reaching out to the attorney general of Montana to talk about working together on border measures.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e formulating a plan right now,香蕉视频直播 he said.
Earlier this week, Ellis said the province has been talking for more than a year about placing more sheriffs along the border with the U.S.
The minister also said the government has been considering sending additional sheriffs to the provincial boundary along the Rocky Mountains in an effort to stem potential drug trafficking from B.C.
His office did not provide details about how much money the province is willing to put into the promised new border patrols.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press