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Canada will who will engage with U.S. counterparts and enhance operational collaboration and efficiency in combating fentanyl in an effort to enhance law enforcement tools to combat organized crime in Canada, according to a media release issued by Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. 

Canada will list organized crime cartels having an impact in Canada as terrorist entities under the criminal code as part of these enhanced efforts.

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada explains the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigate criminal activities by those who threaten the safety and security of Canadians.

“Listing is an important tool that will support criminal investigations and strengthen the RCMP’s ability to prevent and disrupt the activities of the cartels,” the government agency explains.

Canada will launch the Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.

Trudeau signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl that will be supported by Canada’s investment of $200 million in new capacity to allow Public Safety Canada and the Communications Security Establishment to gather intelligence on transnational organized crime and share with American partners and law enforcement across the continent.

Canada has committed to ensuring “24-7 eyes on the border through round-the-clock surveillance” and by mobilizing law enforcement and civilian forces with new and modernized equipment, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada explains.

Through Canada’s Border Plan, the government has pledged more resources dedicated to border security will be deployed, which include the procurement of Black Hawk helicopters, drones, mobile surveillance towers and the addition of personnel and new canine teams.

Nearly 10,000 front-line personnel are working on protecting the border, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada says. 

More money to support the asylum system

The 2024 federal budget provided $743.5 million over five years to support the stability and integrity of Canada’s asylum system, which the government said will increase processing and decision-making capacity.

The federal government said they’ve heightened scrutiny of visitor visa applications from countries with the highest rates of abuse in an effort to reinforce the integrity of the immigration system and reduce fraud. 

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada said that has led to an 89 per cent drop in illegal U.S. crossings by foreign nationals in Canada from June to December 2024 and a 61 per cent increase in refusals for “high-risk countries.”

The federal agency said they’ve also seen an 18 per cent drop in asylum claims by Canadian visa holders from 7,174 claims in October 2024 to 5,832 in November 2024. 

Health Canada’s new Canadian Drug Profiling Centre

Health Canada has a new Canadian Drug Profiling Centre, which will allow for more laboratory capacity by allowing for more specialized forensic analysis of seized illegal synthetic drug samples.

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada said that analysis won’t just help to identify the components of a sample, it will look at markers to help figure out where substances were manufactured.

Health Canada’s new precursor risk management unit will increase oversight over precursor chemicals and distribution channels and monitor emerging illegal drug trends.

New pre-clearance through Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency has announced its intention to launch its first pre-clearance operation in 2025.

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada said pre-clearance supports the national security and economic prosperity of both Canada and the U.S. by facilitating the secure and efficient movement of people and goods across the border.