Latest news with #JenniferLutfallah
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Halifax's new marine container examination facility now open at one of the busiest ports in North America
A new $25-million facility at the port of Halifax is designed to help Canada Border Services Agency officers in their ongoing efforts to crack down on crime and target all forms of illegal activity. 'It means we can combat things like fentanyl coming into our country, as well as being exported out of our country, plus stolen vehicles and addressing a whole range of contraband,' said CBSA Vice President Jennifer Lutfallah. The Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility features multiple examination stations that will closely monitor shipping containers. Over the last 15 months in Halifax, 189 stolen vehicles and more than $200 million worth of narcotics and other types of illegal drugs were seized. 'We are talking about thousands of kilograms, and we are not talking about street level arrests where it is a gram or two, and we have seized 4,000 kg of cocaine at a purity of 95 per cent and up,' said CBSA regional director Dominic Mallette. Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility The facility features mobile, modern high-tech security equipment that can be used at Halifax's two container terminals. One of the trucks at the 2,700-square-metre facility contains a scanner to examine suspicious cargo. 'It then takes an X-ray of everything that's in the container,' said border service officer Kevin Melvin. The new building is located at the site location of the historic Africville community and is named after a hockey team that existed in the early 1900s. It also features mobile, modern high-tech security equipment that can be used at Halifax's two container terminals. The facility's launch comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has been critical of illegal drugs entering the U.S. from Canada and has used that to justify tariffs. 'We owe it to Canadians to make sure our borders are safe, more so than we owe it to the president of the United States,' said N.S. Liberal Member of Parliament Darren Fisher. 'But we do have to be good neighbours as well.' The Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility replaces the previous examination warehouse that was in Dartmouth, N.S., which required shipping containers to be transported several kilometres for inspection.
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Marine Container Examination Facility celebrates new opening in Halifax
The Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility celebrated its official opening July 16, 2025. (CTV Atlantic/ Jonathan MacInnis) The new Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility (MCEF) celebrated its official opening in Halifax on Wednesday. The construction of the facility, which began in summer 2022, finished in April 2025. Operations started on April 7. Benefits of the new facility include: improves the efficiency, safety, security and operations for Canada Border Services (CBSA) employees reduces port congestion through operational efficiencies allows continued growth for the Halifax Port Authority increases supply chain effectiveness enables Canadian businesses to compete and grow in international markets reduces container truck traffic and emissions as the new MCEF is located directly on Port of Halifax property Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility Jennifer Lutfallah at the Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility official opening July 16, 2025. (CTV Atlantic/ Jonathan MacInnis) The 2,700 square-metre facility, located on the Bedford Basin, is operated by the Halifax Port Authority and is used by the CBSA. The CBSA has 10 examination bays for officers to examine high-risk shipping containers. 'Large quantities of drugs and stolen vehicles are regularly intercepted by border services officers,' a release from the CBSA said. Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility The Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility celebrated its official opening July 16, 2025. (CTV Atlantic/ Jonathan MacInnis) 'From March 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, CBSA officers at the Marine Container Examination Facility intercepted 189 stolen vehicles, 1957kg of cannabis leaving Canada, and $208M worth of narcotics,' a release from Darren Fisher, member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, said. The Halifax Port Authority along with the Government of Canada spent around $25 million on the facility. Transport Canada funded $7 million towards the project under the National Trade Corridors Fund. The CBSA invested $879,000 for CCTV hardware and installation. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
