The province has allocated $32.5 million to combat the entry of illegal drugs, firearms, and other contraband into the region. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner disclosed this funding during a press briefing held in Windsor’s Sandwich Town area. Kerzner emphasized the importance of equipping law enforcement agencies with the necessary resources to intercept illegal firearms, drugs, and organized crime activities before they infiltrate local communities.
The funding marks the commencement of Operation Deterrence 2.0, which is the second phase of Ontario’s border security initiative introduced in response to concerns raised by the Trump Administration regarding drug flows from Canada to the U.S. Kerzner highlighted the collaborative efforts to enhance border security, emphasizing that secure borders benefit both countries.
The majority of the funding, amounting to $30 million, will be allocated to a border security grant aimed at enabling municipal and First Nations police services to acquire specialized equipment such as drones, marine vessels, radar systems, thermal imaging cameras, surveillance technologies, and secure intelligence tools. The grant will be accessible to municipalities and First Nations with direct international borders or strategic access to waterways.
Additionally, $2.5 million will be designated for a border integrity investigative fund to support probes into illegal firearms trafficking, drug smuggling, organized crime, and other cross-border criminal activities. Windsor Police Service Chief Jason Crowley expressed intentions to utilize the funding for the procurement of marine vessels and drones as primary responders, with plans to address the replacement of aging vessels when necessary.
Furthermore, the funding includes provisions for the purchase of two new H-135 helicopters totaling $57 million to bolster patrols and enforcement activities at critical border crossings and along the U.S. border. Operation Deterrence has already yielded significant results, including the tracking of over 550 illegal firearms, seizure of more than 4,100 kilograms of cocaine, and 190 kilograms of fentanyl. Crowley emphasized the importance of robust border enforcement in safeguarding local communities, citing the successful efforts of Project Bay as a testament to the significance of such initiatives in enhancing safety measures.
