RCMP commissioner open to idea of integrated U.S.-Canada aerial border patrols

The head of the RCMP is open to the idea of an integrated cross-border aerial law enforcement program which could see U.S. officials helping to patrol the Canadian side of the border.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme was asked about a proposed U.S. Senate bill that would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to negotiate joint U.S.-Canada aerial patrols at the border.

Duheme suggested he's been briefed on the proposal and pointed to an existing marine program.

Colloquially known as Shiprider, the decade-old agreement gives the U.S. Coast Guard and the RCMP the power to board ships and make arrests in both Canadian and American waters.

"So when they're on the Canadian side of the waters, the Canadian officers will use their authority, and when we're on the U.S. side, the U.S. Coast Guard will use their authority. It's a good program," he said.

"We're looking at having another land rider as well as the air rider."

The U.S. Senate bill proposes that the jurisdiction of the proposed aerial patrol program be limited to territory located within 50 miles of either side of the border, about 80 kilometres on either side.

Introduced this spring, the bill advanced past the committee stage in the Senate earlier this week and is now eligible for a vote. Its chances of passing are slim, however, as the clock ticks down on this lame-duck session of Congress. 

Duheme said there have also been discussions about a land-based version of the Shiprider program.

"We've been working on it, but I'm not quite sure of a timeline on it," he said Wednesday following a public safety committee hearing on the border.

Commissioner surprised by floated border price tag

His comments come as the federal government works to address U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's concerns about the Canada-U.S. border and convince him to drop his threat to hit Canada with steep tariffs.

Trump has said that on his first day back in office, he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on goods coming in from Canada and Mexico unless both countries stop what he called an "invasion" of drugs, "in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens" into the U.S.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Canada's premiers to discuss Ottawa's plan to address the incoming U.S. administration's border worries — his second meeting with the provincial leaders since Trump issued his threat.

It was the first time Trudeau had met with the premiers since dining with Trump at Mar-a-Lago nearly two weeks ago. 

According to the federal government's readout of the meeting, the prime minister discussed his government's plans to beef up border security and combat illicit drugs.

A senior source with knowledge of the virtual meeting said those measures include further restrictions on the chemical precursors that are used to make fentanyl and improving coordination between the RCMP and other police forces.

Sources also have told Radio-Canada and CBC News the Trudeau government is considering spending hundreds of millions of dollars — possibly even more than $1 billion —   to protect the border.

Duheme told the public safety committee Wednesday that dollar figure surprised him. He said he had submitted figures ahead of Monday's much-anticipated fall economic update but would not say how much money he's requesting.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc — who sat in on the virtual meeting with the premiers and the dinner with Trump — said Wednesday that details of the government's plan will be made public in "the coming days."

The minsiter has said previously that the government is looking at buying additional equipment to better secure the border, including helicopters and drones.