RCMP Calls for Increased Border Presence

(The Canadian Press)

A senior Mountie says the RCMP needs a more visible presence along the Canada-U.S. border to bolster security.

Assistant Commissioner Mike Cabana said Tuesday the stronger presence would help the force gather information from people in border communities about criminal threats.

Cabana, the senior officer responsible for border integrity issues, told the House of Commons committee on public safety it’s a missing piece of the border policing puzzle.

“What we recognize now is the community involvement is missing,” he said after the meeting. “We realize that we need to go back to the community and initiate discussions with them.”

Cabana said it would not necessarily mean hiring additional personnel or opening new detachments.

“The investigative capability is there. But we need to do a better job at co-ordinating with the community and reaching out for the community’s involvement in securing the border. And the best way to do that is through a visible presence,” he said.

“We need to have a look at the different programs that we have now. We need to have a look at what other agencies are bringing to the table and make a determination of what is required at the border.”

Committee MPs grilled Cabana and a panel of federal security officials on the flood of American handguns spilling onto Canadian streets - and later said they were unhappy with the answers. Read more here.