Question Period Note: Strengthening Border Security

• Backed by an investment of $1.3 billion, Canada’s Border Plan is bolstering border security, strengthening our immigration system, and contributing to ensuring Canada’s future prosperity.

• Strengthening our border is a key priority for our government, and an important area of Canada-U.S. cooperation.
• Canada’s Border Plan, backed by a $1.3 billion investment, strengthens border security and our immigration system, and accelerates the fight against fentanyl and illegal drugs. Through these investments, we are ensuring enhanced border surveillance through new and existing technology and the mobilization of law enforcement resources, and deployment of new detection technology and increasing removals. Approximately 10,000 frontline personnel are working to protect the border.
• Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, will also give us critical new tools to protect our border, bolster our response to increasingly sophisticated criminal networks, and enhance the integrity and fairness of our immigration system while protecting Canadians’ privacy and Charter rights.
• Other key actions include establishing a Joint Operational Intelligence Cell to support law enforcement investigations, listing transnational criminal organizations as terrorist entities, and directing Canada’s intelligence agencies to target cross-border criminal activities.
• These efforts are vital for maintaining our sovereignty and security, and we will continue to take action keep Canadians and our communities safe.

Canada’s Border Plan
• The Government of Canada announced a significant investment of $1.3 billion to enhance border security and strengthen the immigration system. This plan, unveiled in December 2024, focuses on five key pillars:
o Detecting and Disrupting the Fentanyl Trade: Enhanced support for law enforcement agencies, including new AI and imaging tools, additional dog detection teams, and new chemical detection tools at high-risk ports of entry.
o Introducing Significant New Tools for Law Enforcement: Deployment of an Aerial Intelligence Task Force with helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers, along with counter-drone technology.
o Enhancing Operational Coordination: Increased information sharing and collaboration between Canadian and U.S. officials, along with the creation of regional enforcement hubs and a proposed North American Joint Strikeforce, will enhance the targeting and disruption of organized crime and illegal border activities.
o Increasing Information Sharing: Enhanced information and intelligence sharing with federal, provincial, and territorial authorities, the U.S., and international partners to better identify, monitor, and intercept high-risk individuals and goods moving between countries.
o Minimizing Unnecessary Border Volumes: Implementation of changes to end “flagpoling,” amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for greater control over immigration documents, new restrictions on non-cooperative countries, and maintenance of the Safe Third Country Agreement to strengthen immigration and asylum systems while collaborating with the U.S. to protect border integrity and combat illegal activities.
• This comprehensive plan aims to bolster security, improve the efficiency of the immigration system, and ensure the safety and prosperity of Canadians.
• Canada appointed Kevin Brosseau, former Deputy Commissioner of the RCMP and former Deputy National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, as the Fentanyl Czar.

If Pressed
Q1- Surveillance on the Border
• Canada’s Border Plan includes several measures that have enhanced surveillance of the Canada–U.S. border.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has deployed a new Aerial Intelligence Task Force, equipped with helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers to monitor between ports of entry. This task force is supported by counter-drone technology to enhance border monitoring capabilities.
• Additionally, we are flying three Black Hawk helicopters and have procured drones and mobile surveillance towers to ensure continuous monitoring and rapid response to border incidents. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel from federal, provincial, and Indigenous partners are working together on protecting the border.
• Together, these measures strengthen our sovereignty and security, while facilitating the legal flow of people and goods across the border.

Q2- Expanding CBSA to Patrol Between Ports of Entry
• In Canada, border security and integrity is a shared mandate between the CBSA and the RCMP. The CBSA is responsible for enforcing the law at designated ports of entry and the RCMP is responsible for enforcing Canadian legislation between ports of entry.
• The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) plays a critical role in protecting our borders and ensuring the safety and security of Canadians. It enforces over 90 acts, regulations, and international agreements on behalf of other federal departments, agencies, provinces, and territories.
• While the current mandate focuses on operations at designated ports of entries (POE) the government is aware of and carefully considering recommendations from stakeholders regarding the potential expansion of CBSA’s mandate to include enforcement between ports of entry.
• These discussions are ongoing, and any changes to the CBSA’s mandate will be guided by evidence, operational needs, and respect for Canadian rights and freedoms. We remain committed to ensuring that CBSA has the tools and authority it needs to effectively manage our borders.

Q3- Improving Operational Coordination
• Enhancing operational coordination is a key goal of the Border Plan, and as a key part of these efforts Canada has established a North American Joint Strike Force in collaboration with U.S. counterparts.
• It aims to target transnational organized crime through joint mapping and operational efforts. It will also leverage the work of Binational Integrated Border Enforcement Teams, as well as enhanced technical operations capabilities and infrastructure.
• The designation of seven cartels as terrorist entities enables key players from Canada’s financial services sector and law enforcement to further improve intelligence collection and coordination, strengthening efforts against transnational organized crime.
• We are also setting up regional information-sharing hubs that will bring together key federal, provincial, local, and Indigenous law enforcement to support operational coordination.
Q4- Increasing Information Sharing
• Canada’s Border Plan includes significant measures to enhance information sharing.
• The plan improves real-time intelligence sharing between Canadian and U.S. officials, including: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Public Safety Canada, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Health Canada, and provincial and territorial partners.
• This allows for better targeting and stronger actions against illegal border activities. It includes monitoring illegal migration trends and hot spots to respond swiftly and effectively.
• The designation of cartels as terrorist entities enables new partnerships involving key players from Canada’s financial services sector (e.g., banks), such as the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC) and law enforcement. These partnerships improve intelligence collection and coordination, bolstering efforts against sophisticated money laundering schemes and transnational organized crime.
• By strengthening the exchange of information, the Government enhances our border security and safeguards our nation’s safety, prosperity, and integrity.

Q5- New Tools for Law Enforcement
• To bolster law enforcement capabilities, Canada has introduced an Aerial Intelligence Task Force, equipped with helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers and supported by counter-drone technology.
• Additionally, artificial intelligence and imaging tools are deployed to detect illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, before they enter Canada. The CBSA is also training and deploying new canine teams and chemical detection tools at high-risk ports of entry.
• We are also in the process of setting up regional information-sharing hubs that will bring together key federal, provincial, local, and Indigenous law enforcement.
• The Government is committed to ensuring that law enforcement has the tools they need to keep our border safe and secure.

 
Q6 – Strong Borders Act (Bill C-2)
• A strong Canada means strong borders. Our government made a commitment to keep Canada secure and sovereign, and to work with our American partners to strengthen our border.
• That is why, on June 3, 2025, we introduced The Strong Borders Act.
• It will keep Canadians safe by ensuring law enforcement has the right tools to keep our borders secure, combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of illegal fentanyl, and crack down on money laundering.
• It will bolster our response to increasingly sophisticated criminal networks, and enhance the integrity and fairness of our immigration system while protecting Canadians’ privacy and Charter rights.
• This legislation builds on the priorities set out in Canada’s $1.3 Billion Border Plan, announced in December 2024.
• The bill proposes to update existing laws to better address national and economic security threats and to strengthen the security of our border and the integrity of our immigration system.
• This includes changes that would facilitate information sharing; disrupt the illicit flows of fentanyl, other drugs, and precursor chemicals; bolster migration security , and strengthen law enforcement operations.
• Canadians support a strong border and giving law enforcement the tools needed to keep it secure. The proposed legislation will complement a new economic and security relationship with the United States while protecting Canadian sovereignty.