WINNIPEG — Eleven months after Manitoba deployed conservation officers to keep watch along the U.S. border amid heightened tensions over migration and drug smuggling, the initiative has yielded little in the way of action. The province's natural resources minister, Ian Bushie, confirmed in an interview that, to his knowledge, the officers observed no suspicious activity during their patrols.
The deployment came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's accusations last winter that Canada and Mexico were failing to curb illegal border crossings and the influx of drugs like fentanyl. Trump threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on goods from both countries, prompting a series of countermeasures from Ottawa and provincial governments. In Manitoba, the plan involved redirecting 11 conservation officers already working in the southern part of the province to spend more time near the border, reporting any unusual sightings to police and border officials.
Premier Wab Kinew emphasized at the time that the extra eyes could serve dual purposes: enhancing security while also aiding humanitarian efforts, such as assisting migrants caught in the province's harsh winter conditions. The overall security package, which included increased overtime for Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers and funding for equipment like snowmobiles, was projected to cost $1.4 million.
A freedom of information request filed by The Canadian Press with Manitoba's natural resources department turned up no records of conservation officers contributing to drug seizures, migrant detentions, or arrests. The RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency deferred questions to the provincial government, offering no additional details on the officers' involvement.
Kyle Ross, head of the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union, which represents the conservation officers, echoed the minister's assessment. "I hadn’t heard of any incidents either," Ross said, highlighting the quiet nature of the border front.
Despite the lack of observed activity, Bushie suggested the mere announcement of increased surveillance might have deterred potential crossers. "The announcement of stepped-up border surveillance may have had a preventive effect in dissuading some people from attempting to cross the border," he said. He added that the officers were simply shifted within their existing districts, ensuring no disruption to other enforcement duties like monitoring hunting regulations.
However, the union paints a different picture. Ross argued that the border assignments pull officers away from their core responsibilities. "That takes them away from what they’re able to do and what their day-to-day work is," he said, pointing to existing vacancies in the conservation service that exacerbate the strain on resources.
Political analyst Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Manitoba, described the initiative as largely symbolic. "Really it is optics to the Trump administration that the Canadian government, the Manitoba government, is doing something to prevent illegal trafficking," Adams said. He noted that such measures give Canadian officials leverage in lobbying efforts in Washington, allowing them to say, “Look, we’re doing everything we can and I hope you’re happy with that.”
The broader context of U.S.-Canada border security reveals a relatively calm situation in Manitoba. Statistics from the Canada Border Services Agency indicate that the number of foreign nationals detained in Manitoba on suspicion of illegal entry has remained in the single digits for each of the last quarterly periods. These figures encompass not just land border crossings but also arrivals at airports and other inland points.
On the U.S. side, data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency shows that apprehensions by border patrol in the Grand Forks district — covering parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, and surrounding areas — have hovered in the double digits in recent months. This district aligns closely with Manitoba's southern border regions, yet the low numbers suggest limited cross-border activity overall.
The RCMP and border agents continue their routine operations without reliance on conservation officers, regularly seizing drugs and detaining suspects. Officials have not attributed any specific successes or failures to the provincial deployment, maintaining that standard protocols remain effective.
Trump's tariff threats and border rhetoric evolved over time, with shifting rationales that included concerns over trade imbalances and national security. While the tariffs were never fully implemented against Canada, the episode underscored the fragility of cross-border relations, particularly in resource-dependent provinces like Manitoba, where exports to the U.S. form a backbone of the economy.
The deployment's minimal impact raises questions about resource allocation in border provinces. With conservation officers trained primarily in wildlife enforcement rather than immigration or narcotics interdiction, their role was always supplementary. Bushie's office maintains that the initiative aligned with the officers' patrol routes, minimizing any opportunity costs.
Union representatives, however, call for a review of how such ad hoc assignments affect frontline services. Ross's concerns highlight ongoing staffing shortages, with the conservation service struggling to fill positions amid broader public sector challenges in Manitoba.
Looking ahead, as U.S. political dynamics shift with upcoming elections, Canadian officials may revisit border strategies. Adams suggested that while the current quiet prevails, any resurgence in U.S. rhetoric could prompt renewed vigilance. For now, the southern Manitoba front remains all quiet, a testament to either effective deterrence or the absence of a pressing threat — depending on whom one asks.
This relative tranquility stands in contrast to more volatile borders elsewhere, such as the U.S.-Mexico line, where migrant surges and drug trafficking have drawn intense scrutiny. In Manitoba, the focus has historically been on managing cross-border trade in agriculture and energy, with security measures often secondary until external pressures like Trump's statements elevated them.
The $1.4 million investment, while modest in federal terms, drew scrutiny from opposition parties at the time, who questioned its necessity given the low baseline of incidents. Yet, with no tangible outcomes reported, the program serves as a case study in reactive policymaking, balancing domestic optics with international diplomacy.