Ranchers along the Alberta-Montana border are telling the News they are happy to do their part in increased security but remind government and police officials that respect must go both ways. An RCMP vehicle sits parked near the Montana border in this February 2022 file photo.--CP FILE PHOTO
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Southeast Alberta ranchers along the boundary with Montana say they will help the province’s effort to step up border security measures, including allowing greater access to their land and grazing leases, but some stress that co-operation is a two-way street.
On Thursday, Premier Danielle Smith, along with law enforcement officials and two cabinet ministers, said they would move with plans first outlined in 2023 mandate letters to increase policing related to federal jurisdiction.
The measures would target commercial ports of entry, such as Coutts, but will also include some physical and aerial patrols of the 300-kilometre boundary shared with Montana, almost all of which is privately owned or leased for cattle grazing.
A two-kilometre band directly north of the border would be considered under “Critical Infrastructure” legislation. where officers would have wider latitude to initiate searches and make arrests.
Alberta’s justice minister and minister of public safety told reporters the measures won’t affect Albertans who live or work near the border.
That doesn’t concern Tim Piotrowski, of Lost River Ranch located south of Manyberries, who told the News he’s happy to help.
He said he’s motivated to help prevent crime and human trafficking as a matter of good conscience, but his relationship with the RCMP has improved when the force is more forthcoming.
“We’ve had issues in the past, but … for several years they’ve been pretty good to work with,” said Piotrowski, whose holdings along the boundary include two deeded quarter-sections and 11 sections of leased grazing land.
“I’ve given a lot of access with quads, and even gone up with (RCMP officials) in a helicopter to show them where access roads go.”
“Since 9/11 the U.S. has maybe been overboard, but Canada has been too lax. If we don’t do something to appease Trump, it’s going to affect business.”
Gary Armstrong, who runs East and West Ranching Company, located east Highway 41 and the Port of Wildhorse, said he’s also had a good working relationship with federal agencies but “really, anything we can do to improve border security is fantastic.”
The border in Cypress County also includes several small deeded land owners and the provincial Onefour research station, with its five-kilometre southern edge touching Montana.
That is currently used by the One-Four Grazing Co-op, and another large block of leased land comprises the Wildhorse Grazing Co-op.
The border issue arises after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump recently threatened a 25 per cent tariff on trade with Canada and Mexico unless efforts against drug and weapons smuggling, along with illegal immigration, was stepped up in those countries.
“We’ll take immediate action to crack down at illegal activities at our shared border,” Smith said on Thursday, outlining a plan to spend $29 million to create an “Interdiction Patrol Team” with 50 officers, buy 10 drones and off-road vehicles, drug-sniffing dogs and other equipment.
Recruitment will take place within ranks of the current Alberta Sheriff’s department, highway patrol and Fish and Wildlife officers. There is no immediate indication of where officers would be based, but a large focus of the interdiction team will be commercial ports, said Smith.
The province hopes to have the operation in place in early 2025.
The government will also re-designate a two-kilometre band along the entire border as subject to Defence of Critical Infrastructure legislation, thereby allowing warrantless searches of anyone found in the area.
Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis told reporters that measure, along with general operations, shouldn’t affect landowners, or Alberta officers.
“Regardless of who you are, most people understand the importance of border security,” he said. “I would hope we’ll work collaboratively with private property owners, but make no mistake, our friends in law enforcement will abide by the law.”
Alberta and Saskatchewan made a major issue of federal inspectors allegedly entering farm land to conduct water testing in 2023.
In response, Alberta and Saskatchewan both passed laws and cabinet orders underlining that federal employees could face trespassing charges.
On Thursday, Justice Minister Mickey Amery also downplayed concern that residents living near the border might be subject to increased police scrutiny.
“You have to give law enforcement (officials) a little bit of credit here,” he said. “If you’re someone who lives in the area, a homeowner, a farmer, for example, go about and live your life and there shouldn’t be any issues.
“To make it sound like there will be a ton of warrantless searches going on is just not correct.”
