The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has established a new surveillance post in the municipality of Franklin.
The federal police force requested x from the municipality in early August, which was unanimously approved by the council during the regular meeting on September 2.
According to the municipal resolution, the new post has been installed on municipal land located along Route 209, near the border with the United States.
The municipality noted in the resolution that there have been irregular crossings within its territory by migrants along the boundary between Franklin and the U.S.
According to Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon MP Claude DeBellefeuille, the RCMP secured funding for a one-year pilot project for the satellite post, which includes a building for storing equipment. The RCMP has confirmed the partnership with Franklin, which allows officers to intervene more quickly in the event of search-and-rescue operations or security concerns along the border.
DeBellefeuille plans to visit the location once the weather improves and she is hopeful the project will be continued following the trial period. “We are working on next year,” she said, noting the surveillance post improves the RCMP’s ability to respond to issues at the border and will help with the work they are doing in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
“My job is to see if we have enough RCMP officers to do the job and if they have the equipment they need to do the job. We are happy with their decision to set up a satellite surveillance post,” she said.
Close collaboration
DeBellefeuille explained that she has worked over the last few years to develop a close working relationship with the RCMP. She recognized the efforts that officers in the area have been making to work productively with local municipalities and with citizens as well.
“I am really happy to be working with them. We are truly partners,” she added, noting that she is in the process of organizing a meeting in mid-March between the police force and the 13 mayors in the Haut-Saint-Laurent to discuss a possible increase in the number of irregular migrants, as well as the collaboration between the RCMP, the CBSA, and the Sûreté du Québec.
“I try to organize this meeting once a year so that the mayors can ask questions and exchange ideas,” DeBellefeuille explained, adding there was a possibility other area deputies may be invited as well, as these types of meetings ensure elected officials remain connected with what is happening within the region.