Conservation officers tasked with border security

A decision to have Manitoba conservation officers patrol the Canada-U.S. border has not been greeted with all-party support.

Premier Wab Kinew spoke to media near Emerson on Monday, announcing his plan which will see the conservation officers take on the task of border patrol.

“Our government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our southern border, and with Manitoba conservation officers joining the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency in this work, Manitoba is doing our part,” he said. “Increased eyes and ears will help crack down on drug trafficking, stop unsafe crossings and potentially save lives.”

Steinbach and Sprague based conservation officers will join colleagues from Virden, Boissevain, Manitou and Winnipeg to conduct border patrols between ports of entry, focusing on secondary roads and back country areas.

To allow that, the province is deploying snowmobiles, utility terrain vehicles and helicopters to support the work.

Chief conservation officer Corey Meadows said they’re ready to apply their enforcement skills to assist the RCMP, Canada Border Services and other enforcement agencies to stop what he called the “proliferation of smuggling in firearms, drugs and people” across the border.

“Our officers will uphold and enhance coordinated law enforcement in this shared international effort,” he said. “Manitoba conservation officers are expertly trained and skilled peace officers who have authority to enforce a variety of acts and regulations in the interests of public safety and resource protection.”

Conservation officers are told not to intervene in cases where they suspect further criminal activity such as drug trafficking. In that case they report to Canada Border Services or the RCMP.

Kinew added this is also about people.

“This is a humanitarian effort as well as an important step to keep people safe,” he said. “If there’s a child or a family in danger near the border, we’re going to make sure there’s help there. But if someone is smuggling drugs or guns, we’re going to stop them.”

Kinew told reporters this is part of their planned response to Trump but also addresses concerns they’ve heard from border communities.

The province is spending $360,000 to re-deploy the officers along with funding for equipment. Another $460,000 will go toward overtime for RCMP near the border.

Six people were arrested trying to cross the border into Manitoba on Jan. 14. RCMP say they weren’t dressed for the temperature which dipped below -20 C.

The ability of conservation officers to handle this task in additional to their regular duties is not something all are confident in.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union said about 20 percent of conservation officer jobs are currently vacant.

Kinew however, put that number at 10 percent, saying the change from 20 to 10 percent happened under the NDP government.

PC leader Wayne Ewasko also criticized the plan.

“Conservation officers have an important job protecting public safety and our fish, wildlife, and forest resources, but pulling them away from their core duties to patrol the border is not a permanent solution,” he said in an emailed statement.

The provincial announcement came one week after Black Hawk helicopters began patrolling the Manitoba-U.S. border, part of a federal government initiative.

-with files from the Winnipeg Free Press