The move is the latest in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the Canadian border is lax with drugs and people crossing into the U.S. illegally.
The federal government is looking at bolstering security at Canada’s ports, including more security screenings for those working on the docks.
Recommended Videos
Transport Minister Anita Anand announced Friday that changes would come after a two-month public consultation phase ending March 31.
“We are consulting on expanding security clearances at our ports. These proposed changes would further enhance security at our borders,” she said.
The move is the latest in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the Canadian border security is lax with drugs and people crossing into the U.S. illegally.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty and Immigration Minister Marc Miller have been in Washington in recent days to convince the Trump administration that measures have been taken to harden the border in the hopes they can prevent his threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs.
Before Trump raised the border security issues, B.C. politicians expressed repeated concerns about organized crime and the ports. Over the past two years, record amounts of outbound methamphetamine have been seized by the Canada Border Services Agency, without charges being laid in most cases. And they noted that port police were eliminated across the country in 1997 as part of a series of federal cost-cutting measures.
Retired RCMP deputy commissioner Peter German produced a report for the City of Delta in 2023 about the infiltration of organized crime at the Port of Vancouver. One of his recommendations was increased security screening for workers there.
Delta Mayor George Harvie has led the charge to get federal action on organized criminals’ infiltration of the country’s ports. Harvie said Friday that the announcement is “a good step.”
“I’m very happy about it,” he said. “As mayor of Delta, along with other mayors with ports in British Columbia, we will be taking a strong message to the committee insofar as what we see as the necessary changes that have to be made.”
He said simply re-establishing the same port police model wouldn’t be the appropriate response after 27 years because the problem is much more complex today.
“It needs to have a new model,” Harvie said, adding that more must be done to ensure those smuggling through the ports are charged, and if convicted, face stiffer sentences.
“We need to take control of our ports back from the cartels,” he said.
The federal government release said, “Canada’s ports play a vital role in ensuring the efficient flow of goods, fostering international trade, and providing well-paying jobs for Canadians.”
It noted that currently only port workers “with specific occupations and those requiring access to highly restricted areas at Canada’s ports are required to hold a Transportation Security Clearance.”
“The consultation will explore strengthening security with more background security checks at Canadian ports and marine facilities.”