Saskatchewan Strengthens Border Security

Released on January 14, 2025

To enhance border integrity between Saskatchewan and the United States, the Government of Saskatchewan has introduced a Saskatchewan Border Security Plan (SBSP). The SBSP enables the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety to mobilize Provincial Protective Services (PPS) officers to work in partnership with provincial policing services and federal agencies to boost law enforcement's presence near the border.

"Our government is taking immediate steps to increase border integrity, ensuring the Saskatchewan-US border is secure and our communities are safe," Premier Scott Moe said. "We are redeploying 16 provincial law enforcement officers to patrol high-priority areas around the border. We are also prepared to mobilize up to 95 total officers to address emerging incidents should they arise."

The SBSP will take immediate action to redeploy 16 officers from conservation, Saskatchewan Highway Patrol and canine-handler teams to regularly conduct patrols and public safety campaigns near the border. These resources will include one mobile command unit for conducting commercial vehicle inspections, up to 16 patrol cars equipped with licence plate readers, and specialty equipment, such as drones, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and three planes for conducting surveillance activities. 

In addition, Saskatchewan has the ability to offer surge capacity of up to 95 officers to support federal border agencies if significant illegal activity occurs at the border. The province will explore options, such as creating a Border Integrity and Intervention Team with the Saskatchewan Marshals Service; expanding the mandate and complement of the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Teams (STRTs); and prioritizing the enforcement efforts of STRTs and other enforcement teams where required.

"Members of our Provincial Protective Services team will work with existing federal and provincial agencies to strengthen border security through high visibility surveillance, commercial vehicle enforcement and remote area patrols," Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said. "This approach builds on the already strong enforcement work that is being done across the province."

In 2024, provincially-funded law enforcement teams seized illegal items valued at more than $17 million. The seized items include 88 kg of illicit drugs, with an approximate street value of more than $8 million and more than one million packs of illegal tobacco, with an approximate street value of $9.1 million. In addition, roughly 400 illegal firearms and over $700,000 in cash were confiscated during their investigations. STRTs have intervened in human trafficking matters and played a key role in educating police and other stakeholders across the province. 

The Canada Border Services Agency and RCMP Federal Enforcement Section will continue to have direct enforcement responsibility for securing Canada's borders. PPS officers will not assume any federal border enforcement responsibilities. They will only patrol within interprovincial borders and areas north of the Saskatchewan-US border, successfully complementing federal enforcement efforts to help protect Saskatchewan's border from domestic and international threats.

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