Province tasks Manitoba Conservation Officers with border patrol

There will be more boots on the ground around Manitoba’s border with the United States.

Flanked by armed Manitoba Conservation Officers (COs), Premier Wab Kinew said Monday many in the province have turned their focus south as President Donald Trump starts to implement policy — and Manitoba is beefing up border security as a result.

“During these unprecedented times, it’s important that we as a province put our resources forward to ensure that we’re keeping you safe and keeping our economy strong,” said Premier Kinew at a press conference near Emerson, Man., Monday. 

“At the same time, throughout our history as Manitobans, we have welcomed people here from around the world, fleeing conflict, fleeing famine, fleeing natural disaster. And when those situations arise, and that humanitarian call is made, Manitobans have always stood up to answer.” 

Manitoba COs will now be asked to patrol backcountry areas and secondary roads as part of the effort, working as an additional set of “eyes and ears” for law enforcement while helping those who may be in crisis while crossing the border.

“We know that it can be life and death in a Manitoba winter,” said Premier Kinew.

Border crossings in the province have turned tragic in the past, as in January 2022 following their deaths due to exposure, the bodies of Jagdishkumar Patel, 39; his wife Vaishaliben Patel, 37; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and their three-year-old son, Dharmik, were found near Emerson just metres from the U.S. border. 

A provincial news release said the officers will be stationed out of Virden, Boissevain, Manitou, Winnipeg, Steinbach and Sprague, focusing on the less-travelled secondary roads and backcountry areas. The patrols, which will be utilizing snowmobiles, utility terrain vehicles and helicopters in the duties, will be assigned on top of their regular work.  

“We’re asking them to do more,” Kinew said. 

The Government of Manitoba has been hiring COs to address staffing shortages and increased demand, but Kinew said there is more work to be done on that front, with the border patrols active for a few weeks. 

He says the newly assigned patrols are a result of the new U.S. administration. “President Trump has changed the world and we all have to respond,” Kinew said.

The COs part of a border beef up costing roughly $1.4 million. 

“We saw in the first Trump administration that there were people coming north across our border from the U.S. and Manitoba had to respond,” said Kinew.

“So what we’re saying today is we’re sending a strong message to our allies; we’re serious about border security, but first and foremost, we’re sending that message to Manitobans, that our province is ready for whatever comes next.”