The committee studied Canada-U.S. border security, hearing from Ranatiiostha Swamp, Acting Chief of Police of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service; Brian Sauvé, President of the National Police Federation; Leah West, Associate Professor, as an individual; and Lucas Bédard, Director of the Atlantic Central Region of the National Police Federation.
Ranatiiostha Swamp described how Akwesasne’s geography—spanning two countries, two provinces and New York state—is exploited by organized crime for fentanyl, firearms, human smuggling and contraband, forcing his small first nations police service to operate at a transnational level with limited resources. He recommended formal cross-border coordination protocols, targeted federal funding for infrastructure, technology, staffing and training, and respect for first nations rights under the Jay Treaty of 1794, emphasizing that border policies must not restrict family movement or cultural practices. He noted that while partnerships with agencies like the RCMP and CBSA are strong, many collaborations remain informal, and he called for a permanent policing presence on Cornwall Island, expanded marine facilities, modern surveillance and stable federal support to reflect his service’s dual community and border mandate.
Brian Sauvé argued that expanding the CBSA’s mandate between ports of entry would duplicate efforts, given the agency’s shortage of up to 3,000 officers, and instead urged investment in the RCMP’s federal policing program, which already leads border enforcement. He recommended streamlining procurement processes with national security exemptions, expanding integrated border enforcement teams, and establishing dedicated, fenced funding for federal policing to end the backstopping of contract policing, noting that chronic resource shortages hinder frontline enforcement. He disagreed with any suggestion that the RCMP should exit contract policing, stating the integrated model best serves Canada, and highlighted that recent investments in border infrastructure and technology are only initial steps.
Leah West focused on information sharing and lawful access, stating that Canadian law enforcement operates under outdated legal authorities that undermine cooperation with U.S. partners on threats like fentanyl and organized crime. She recommended passing narrow amendments for production orders on basic subscriber information to enable a CLOUD Act agreement with the U.S., and urged clear statutory rules distinguishing what information can be disclosed without judicial authorization. She criticized past lawful access reforms as being rushed through omnibus legislation in response to crises, and specifically argued that parts 14 and 15 of Bill C-2 contain elements, such as demand letters, that are likely unconstitutional and require stand-alone, transparent consultation rather than swift passage.
Lucas Bédard emphasized that RCMP border detachments in Quebec, such as those in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Valleyfield, lack sufficient staffing and technology, with members often loaned from other units like national security investigations, creating a “game of musical chairs” that weakens all sectors. He recommended deploying drones equipped with infrared, Bluetooth and cellphone technology for real-time border monitoring, noting that current systems like cameras with SD cards cause delays of up to two weeks. He agreed with Sauvé that sustained federal investment in technology and personnel is needed, and offered to provide the committee with information on whether U.S. border agencies use more advanced technology.
The committee’s questioning covered operational challenges, with Swamp noting that organized crime conducts countersurveillance on his marine unit and that delays in coordination across jurisdictions allow smugglers to cross the St. Lawrence River within minutes. Sauvé and Bédard discussed recruitment and retention, with Sauvé stating that the RCMP’s training academy is ramping up after pandemic disruptions and that a record number of applicants is expected, though Bédard noted that staffing gaps in remote areas like northwestern Ontario persist due to shifting federal priorities. West reiterated that parts of Bill C-2’s lawful access provisions could be made constitutional through amendment, but that the demand letter element had never been subject to prior consultation and required fundamental reconsideration.
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