Sask. latest province to announce increased U.S. border security amid tariff threat

WATCH: Premier Scott Moe speaks to reporters, announcing enhanced border measures.

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced a new plan to enhance border security which will include redeploying officers to both the province’s interprovincial and international boundaries.

Premier Scott Moe announced the plan at an event in Regina on Tuesday – referencing the federal government’s commitment to invest $1.3 billion in additional border security.

“The announcement that we’re making today and the initiative that we’re putting forward here today, is that it will enhance that investment,” he told reporters. “It will enhance the border security initiatives that are already in place today.”

Premier Scott Moe made the announcement at an event at the Wascana Maintenance Depot in Regina on Tuesday.

The new plan will enable the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety to mobilize Provincial Protective Services (PPS) officers to work in partnership with other provincial services and federal agencies.

A total of 16 officers from conservation, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol and canine-handler teams will be redeployed to regularly conduct patrols and public safety campaigns near the border, according to the announcement.

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Resources will include one mobile command unit and up to 16 patrol vehicles equipped with license plate readers, specialty equipment such as drones, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles and three planes for conducting surveillance activities.

The plan also allows for a surge capacity of 95 total officers to be deployed to address emerging incidents near the border as they arise.

The issue of border security has been highlighted since President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods – citing concerns of illicit drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

“When our largest trading finder partner identifies some challenges in his mind around border security at the 49th parallel. We pay attention,” Moe explained.

“You’ve seen other provincial announcements, and you’ve seen a federal initiative, and I think those all point towards a more secure border for not only Canadians, but for all North Americans.”

According to the province, it will explore other options such as creating a “Border Integrity and Intervention Team” within the Saskatchewan Marshals Service, expanding the mandate and complement of the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Teams (STRTs) and prioritizing the enforcement efforts of the STRTS and other teams were required.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the RCMP Federal Enforcement Section will continue to have direct enforcement responsibility for securing Canada’s borders.

The officers outlined in the plan will only patrol within interprovincial borders and areas north of the Saskatchewan – U.S. border to complement federal enforcement efforts.

“It’s important to note that the border itself is a federal jurisdiction, and the CBSA and the RCMP will continue to be responsible for the border itself,” Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Tim McLeod.

“What we’re doing is we’re exercising the resources that we have in the jurisdiction that we’re responsible for to make sure that there’s no gaps between the areas that we patrol and the areas of responsibility of the federal government.”

Moe is set to travel to Ottawa for a First Ministers meeting Tuesday – where the threat of U.S. tariffs and border security measures are expected to be top of mind.

“We look forward to working with our provincial partners,” he said.

“We’ve seen some of the work that is happening in Alberta as well as in Manitoba and Ontario – and we look forward to working together across Canada, ensuring that we have a secure 49th parallel.”