“We were anticipating a busier winter,” said Inspector Martin Labrecque of the relatively few search and rescue operations carried out by RCMP officers along the border since early February.
During an exclusive visit by The Gleaner to the RCMP’s new surveillance post in the municipality of Franklin, Labrecque addressed the ongoing situation at the border. “Last year, we had several search and rescue operations, several situations where people were found suffering from hypothermia and transported to hospitals, so we really wanted to have a place where we could bring people right where it happens,” he explained.
The post’s proximity to the border allows the RCMP to significantly reduce its response time as officers can immediately access the field in the event they are called to intervene.
Officers are not stationed at this location, but it is always available and provides a heated space where intercepted individuals or groups can be treated before they are released to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The temporary post, which has been operational since October, includes four workstations, a private interview room equipped with cameras, as well as a storage area for specialized equipment, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles. An unmarked support vehicle is also available at this location containing the necessary equipment for drone operations. The drone batteries recharge while the vehicle is being driven, allowing for all-day use.
Drones are now used regularly, said Officer Jonathan Maheu, particularly during search and rescue operations. He described the local forest and terrain as particularly hostile and difficult to traverse, with no marked trails. “It does the work of several police officers because it can patrol a large area very quickly,” he explained, noting the drones are fairly resistant to temperature, wind, rain, and snow.
The relative calm at the border has allowed the RCMP to focus on other aspects of its mandate, said Labrecque, including railway safety, smuggling on Lake Saint-François in the Ontario-Quebec and Akwesasne sectors, and management of weapons and narcotics. He noted the effectiveness of close partnerships with the U.S. authorities and the CBSA, including joint investigation teams and quick response teams that deal with all types of smuggling.
In terms of their presence in the region, Labrecque explained that maintaining a positive relationship with locals is crucial. Officers make a point of becoming involved in community activities and maintaining contact with citizens and property owners, as their work often takes place on private land at night.
Labrecque confirmed the surveillance post is a one-year pilot project in partnership with Franklin, which provided the lot for free.
“An evaluation will be conducted in the spring to decide whether to extend it,” he said, suggesting this decision will include a cost-benefit analysis as well as an evaluation of the operational and public safety gains. He acknowledged that the lack of activity at the border as of late could impact this decision, before adding quickly that the situation could change rapidly.
“We can clearly see the benefits,” said Labrecque, who suggested that while he doesn’t see a similar project starting in the western part of the territory (in Dundee, for example), he would be interested in talking with local authorities about storing equipment so it could be accessed more quickly.
He confirms the RCMP will meet with the Haut-Saint-Laurent mayors and other elected officials in the coming weeks to discuss public safety and the continually evolving situation along the border.