The Alberta government says its border security measures are already having a positive impact on reducing the flow of illicit drugs and human trafficking. The premier and government officials called on U.S. President Donald Trump to meet them halfway and ensure he’s holding up his end of the bargain on the other side of the border.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and several ministers held a press conference responding to the tariffs on Wednesday.
“The issue we’re facing in Alberta at our border appears to be drugs coming up from the U.S. into Canada, whether it’s cocaine or crystal meth,” said Smith. “The issue of migrants seems to be exclusively people coming across from the United States into Canada.”
Smith outlined four measures she’s taken in response to the tariffs, including a directive requiring that government agencies purchase all goods and services from Albertan or Canadian companies.
She also warned that the province was willing to significantly increase oil and gas exports to countries other than the U.S.
Smith and her ministers provided updates on Alberta’s border security, suggesting that more could be done by her American partners.
“Certainly, in Alberta, we are doing our part to secure the border. I would certainly ask that the president do his part to secure the border as well,” said Alberta’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis.
Ellis said the new Alberta Sheriff Interdiction Patrol Team already has 20 members assigned to patrol entry points on Alberta’s side of the border. He said that 31 additional members will be assigned to the team in the coming months.
He said the team is already making a notable difference and that Alberta’s side of the border is secure.
Ellis said the province continues to collaborate with the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency to secure the border.
He added that Alberta hasn’t just been addressing the fentanyl crisis at the border but working with municipalities to combat crime and fentanyl provincewide — citing the success of Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams in removing fentanyl superlabs.
Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, added that the province is building three new vehicle inspection stations close to the border.
Alberta unveiled its border security plan back in Dec. 2024. Smith said the deployment of interdiction teams, sniffer dogs, vehicle inspections, drones, and Black Hawk helicopters proves that the province is doing its part.
“That’s a demonstration we’re doing our part. We’re wanting the U.S. to match our efforts as well,” said Smith. “Let’s stamp out the scourge of fentanyl. We all want to eliminate it, but it’s going to take a joint effort working collaboratively, and I think some recognition that it’s a two-way street.”
Smith argued that the opioid crisis originated in the U.S., pointing to Purdue Pharma’s aggressive marketing of OxyContin. She said the U.S. should take responsibility for being a net exporter of cocaine, crystal meth, and other illicit drugs.
“I can’t stop all the deaths from happening in the United States. They’ve got to do some work on that, too. We can certainly decrease them, as we’ve demonstrated in Alberta,” said Smith, revealing that Alberta’s recovery-based approach has reduced opioid deaths by 40 per cent.
Alberta’s Minister of Justice Mickey Amery said that the recently implemented critical border zone, or “red zone,” is showing early success. However, Amery noted that more needs to be done.
He reiterated his call for the federal government to repeal Bill C-5 and re-introduce mandatory minimum sentences for Controlled Drugs and Substances Act offences.
The bill cannot be repealed right now as Parliament is prorogued until Mar. 24, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requested it be prorogued until the Liberals complete their leadership election on Mar. 9.
Trump recently accused Trudeau of exploiting the tariff crisis for power.
An inspector with the Alberta Sheriffs, Ken Howdle, revealed that the Interdiction Patrol Team is actively patrolling all access points on Alberta’s shared border with the U.S.
He said the interdiction patrol teams currently operate in two seven-member teams and three two-member teams, running staggered shifts.
Howdle revealed some of the key arrests and apprehensions made already.
He said three individuals were apprehended with cocaine with the intent to traffic. Additionally, one traffic stop revealed human trafficking, and other traffic stops removed 34 impaired drivers from the highways. Four vehicles were also stopped for failing to stop for inspection at the border heading north.
“These instances are clear proof that the interdiction patrol team’s presence in the area is playing an important role in both disrupting cross-border criminal activity and maintaining safety and order that surrounding communities depend on,” said Howdle.