Alberta Premier Danielle Smith introduced plans to bolster security at the province’s border points with the U.S., including $29 million to create an Interdiction Patrol Team (IPT), which will be made up of 51 uniformed officers, 10 support staff including dispatchers and analysts, four drug patrol dogs, and 10 surveillance drones,news mediareports.

The IPT will be set up to intercept illegal attempts to cross the border, or bring drugs or firearms across the 298-kilometre international boundary with the U.S. Alberta would be able to create a border zone at least two kilometres deep, with a focus on commercial vehicle inspection stations on main highways, and near border entry points. 

The news comes weeks after President-elect Donald Trump said he would impose 25-per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico unless both countries improve border security, including clamping down on the illegal transport of narcotics and people. 

The measures announced by Alberta reflect aspects of an action plan proposed by the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which called on the Prime Minister and provincial premiers to develop a joint action plan that improves border security by addressing red flags before they ever reach the border.

“All provinces, independent of federal regulations, have the power to send a strong message to Washington that you are securing your trucking transportation supply chain by increasing oversight of immigration, labour, and illegal cargo offenses,” said CTA president Stephen Laskowski. “We commend Alberta for taking border security seriously, which appears to be a major priority for the incoming US administration.” 

The province's goal is to have the IPT operating by early 2025.

"Together with federal law enforcement, we'll ensure that our section of the American border is well-protected," Premier Smith said. "… And if we succeed and maintain proper border security, I expect we'll have a very strong relationship with the United States as we always have."